Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu declined 11 opportunities to authorize the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, in the months leading up to the October 7, 2023, massacre, according to a report aired by Channel 12 that cites a senior defense official.
Sinwar, who is widely regarded as the chief planner behind the October 7 attack, was repeatedly located by Israeli intelligence earlier in 2023, the report says.
According to the senior official quoted in the report, the Shin Bet managed on numerous occasions in February and March 2023 to pinpoint Sinwar’s whereabouts and relayed that information to Netanyahu. Despite recommendations from the security agency to carry out a targeted killing, the prime minister allegedly refused to approve the operation. The official further claimed that Netanyahu did not even agree to convene senior officials to weigh the option of launching a strike.
The Prime Minister’s Office rejected the claims, pushing back strongly against the report’s characterization. In a statement, the PMO said the account reverses the facts and asserted that Netanyahu “demanded repeatedly to eliminate the Hamas leadership, but the security leadership stopped it. This is well documented in minutes of the discussions.”
{Matzav.com}Authorities believe the brownish liquid sprayed on Rep. Ilhan Omar during a chaotic town hall meeting in Minnesota late Tuesday was apple cider vinegar, according to reports following the incident.
Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, was struck by the common kitchen liquid when 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak allegedly rushed the stage as the congresswoman was delivering a speech critical of ICE, Alpha News reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
A hazmat team later determined that the syringe Kazmierczak is accused of using contained the vinegar-like substance, the outlet said.
Minneapolis City Council member LaTrisha Vetaw, who was also splashed during the incident, said the odor was so overpowering that it made her physically ill.
“It smelled like vinegar or ammonia,” Vetaw told The Post, adding that the stench was “overwhelming.”
“It started out smelling really like apple cider vinegar-smelly. Then it started to smell like ammonia, like a strong, pure ammonia smell, I was wondering why the smell wasn’t going away.”
“I got sick to my stomach,” she continued. “I went outside and threw up because, like, the smell was so strong.”
The incident occurred as Omar was sharply criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and calling for the abolition of ICE when Kazmierczak allegedly confronted her in front of a packed audience.
Video from the scene shows the suspect apparently leaping from his front-row seat and charging toward the podium, spraying the amber-colored liquid across Omar’s chest.
Law enforcement officers inside the venue quickly tackled the suspect to the ground and placed him in handcuffs, while forensic teams were summoned to examine the scene.
Footage taken after the spray shows Omar appearing to lunge toward the alleged attacker with her fist raised.
“I need a napkin,” Omar could be heard telling a staff member.
Despite the incident, the 43-year-old member of the so-called “Squad” declined medical attention and went on to continue her remarks to the audience.
{Matzav.com}
Federal authorities have placed the Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti on administrative leave, according to information obtained by The Post, as investigations into the incident continue.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said the decision follows standard procedure whenever officers discharge their weapons during a deadly encounter.
According to a preliminary review released Tuesday by DHS, two federal immigration officers fired their weapons during a confrontation in Minneapolis over the weekend that ended with the death of Pretti, 37, after a struggle involving multiple agents.
Authorities have not publicly identified either of the officers involved in the shooting.
The review states that Customs and Border Protection officers attempted to arrest Pretti after he refused repeated orders to move out of the street. Pretti, who was carrying a loaded Sig Sauer pistol, “resisted,” and during the ensuing struggle a Border Patrol agent could be heard shouting, “He’s got a gun!”
Moments later, one Border Patrol agent opened fire on Pretti, followed shortly by a second CBP officer. Officials said video footage shows at least 10 shots being fired in total, though it remains unclear whether Pretti’s own firearm discharged during the incident.
Despite immediate medical assistance provided by the federal officers at the scene, Pretti was pronounced dead within about 30 minutes of the confrontation.
An autopsy is being conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office as part of the ongoing investigation.
DHS officials said the preliminary findings, which were compiled using body-worn camera footage and other CBP records, have been forwarded to congressional committees responsible for overseeing the department.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday after the mayor publicly rejected Trump’s call for the city to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, escalating tensions between the White House and Democratic-led sanctuary jurisdictions.
“Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, ‘Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is after having had a very good conversation with him. ‘Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!’”
Frey responded about an hour later, defending Minneapolis’ policies and arguing that immigration enforcement should not be the responsibility of local police. “The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws. I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS & is from Ecuador. It’s similar to the policy your guy Rudy [Giuliani] had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911,” Frey wrote on X.
Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 in response to jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. So far, he has not taken that step in Minnesota or Minneapolis, which are governed by Democrats including Gov. Tim Walz, Mayor Frey, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The president’s latest comments followed Frey’s public rejection of several issues discussed during recent conversations with border czar Tom Homan regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city. In a thread posted Tuesday night, Frey reiterated his stance while saying city officials would continue to engage with federal authorities. “I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe,” Frey wrote. “City leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Mr. Homan and his team.”
Earlier in that thread, Frey struck a more measured tone, describing meetings with federal officials as constructive while still pushing back on enforcement actions taking place in the city. “Today, Chief [Brian] O’Hara and I met with Border Czar Homan and had a productive conversation,” Frey wrote. “I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible.”
He went on to argue that aggressive immigration tactics undermine public safety. “Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division,” Frey wrote, adding that he conveyed to Homan “the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”
The clash between Frey and the Trump administration could eventually land before the Supreme Court, with broader implications for how immigration laws are enforced nationwide. As Minneapolis and other sanctuary jurisdictions maintain that ICE operations are solely a federal responsibility, and Trump suggests that refusal to assist may violate federal law, the dispute raises fundamental constitutional questions.
Legal analysts caution that the standoff could intensify into a major test of states’ rights versus presidential authority, potentially reshaping the boundaries of immigration enforcement in cities and states that openly resist cooperating with ICE.
{Matzav.com}
A powerful Shabbos experience focused on strengthening emunah and bitachon is set to take place this winter in New Jersey, bringing together leading rabbonim, gifted speakers, and families from across the region for an immersive, uplifting weekend.
The 5th Annual Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon will be held February 6–8 at The Westin Princeton, NJ, offering participants a rare opportunity to step away from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with clarity, purpose, and inner strength through Torah, tefillah, and meaningful human connection.
At the heart of the Shabbos is Rabbi Sholom M. Rubashkin, whose personal journey and teachings on faith and trust have inspired tens of thousands around the world. Throughout the Shabbos, Rabbi Rubashkin will deliver powerful addresses, lead spirited seudos and oneg Shabbos, and engage in personal conversations with attendees. Special sessions for women will be presented by Rabbi Rubashkin together with Mrs. Rubashkin, offering depth, chizuk, and practical guidance.
The program features an exceptional lineup of singers and speakers, each bringing a unique voice and perspective to the themes of emunah and bitachon, including Avraham Fried, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rav Aharon Weinberg, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Shloime Taussig, and Rabbi Getzel Rubashkin. Together, they will create an atmosphere of inspiration that speaks to the heart and resonates long after Shabbos ends.
Beyond the powerful content, the Shabbos is designed as a complete experience. Guests will enjoy luxury accommodations and a five-star menu, creating an environment of menuchas hanefesh that allows participants to fully absorb the message of the weekend. Inspiring tefillos, warm communal moments, and carefully curated programming ensure that every aspect of Shabbos contributes to spiritual elevation.
The event is truly for the entire family. Alongside adult programming, there will be special sessions for teens, an exciting and meaningful kids’ program led by Rabbi Motty Zeiger, and babysitting for infants—making it possible for parents to participate fully while knowing their children are engaged and cared for.
Over the years, the Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon has earned a reputation as a life-changing experience for individuals and families alike. Many attendees describe leaving recharged, refocused, and better equipped to face life’s challenges with calm, confidence, and trust in Hashem.
Registration information and additional details are available at bitachonshabbos.com and alephbeisgimmel.com, or by calling or texting (732) 354-1496.
{Matzav.com}
The acting head of the nation’s cyber defense agency uploaded sensitive government contracting materials into the public version of ChatGPT last summer, setting off multiple automated security alerts designed to prevent the loss or improper release of federal information, according to four officials at the Department of Homeland Security familiar with the matter. The incident was first reported by Politico.
The episode drew particular attention because Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala, who serves as acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had personally sought and received special approval from CISA’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to access the AI tool shortly after he arrived at the agency in May, three of the officials said. At the time, the application remained blocked for other DHS employees.
The four officials said none of the materials uploaded were classified. However, they included CISA contracting records labeled “for official use only,” a designation applied to information considered sensitive and not intended for public dissemination. All four sources spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for possible retaliation.
According to the officials, CISA’s cybersecurity monitoring systems detected the uploads in August. One source said there were several alerts during the first week of that month alone. Senior DHS leadership then launched an internal review to determine whether the disclosures posed any risk to government security, two of the officials said.
The outcome of that review has not been made public.
In a written statement, CISA Director of Public Affairs Marci McCarthy said Gottumukkala “was granted permission to use ChatGPT with DHS controls in place,” adding that “this use was short-term and limited.” McCarthy said the agency remains committed to “harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to drive government modernization and deliver on” President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at removing barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence.
Her statement also appeared to challenge the timeline cited by Politico, saying: “Acting Director Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala last used ChatGPT in mid-July 2025 under an authorized temporary exception granted to some employees. CISA’s security posture remains to block access to ChatGPT by default unless granted an exception.”
Gottumukkala is currently the highest-ranking political official at CISA, an agency responsible for defending federal networks from advanced cyber threats posed by hostile nation-states, including Russia and China.
Any information entered into the public version of ChatGPT is shared with its owner, OpenAI, meaning it can be used to help generate responses for other users. OpenAI has said the platform has more than 700 million active users worldwide.
By contrast, AI tools approved for DHS employees, including the department’s internally developed chatbot known as DHSChat, are configured to ensure that queries and documents remain within government systems and do not leave federal networks.
Gottumukkala “forced CISA’s hand into making them give him ChatGPT, and then he abused it,” said one of the officials.
Federal employees receive training on how to properly handle sensitive materials. DHS policy also requires security officials to examine the “cause and affect” of any exposure involving documents marked for official use and to determine the “appropriateness” of administrative or disciplinary steps. Depending on the findings, consequences can range from mandatory retraining or written warnings to more severe actions such as suspending or revoking a security clearance, one official said.
After the activity was detected, Gottumukkala met with senior DHS officials to review the materials he had uploaded to ChatGPT, according to two of the officials. DHS’s then-acting general counsel, Joseph Mazzara, participated in evaluating any potential harm to the department, one source said. DHS Chief Information Officer Antoine McCord was also involved, another official said.
The officials added that Gottumukkala also met in August with CISA’s chief information officer, Robert Costello, and its chief counsel, Spencer Fisher, to discuss the incident and proper handling of “for official use only” information.
Mazzara and Costello did not respond to requests for comment. McCord and Fisher could not be reached.
Gottumukkala has led CISA in an acting role since May, when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appointed him deputy director. President Trump’s nominee to permanently head the agency, DHS special adviser Sean Plankey, was blocked last year by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida over a Coast Guard shipbuilding contract, and a new confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled.
His tenure has been marked by controversy, including prior security-related issues. Earlier this summer, at least six career employees were placed on leave after Gottumukkala failed a counterintelligence polygraph exam that he had requested, as Politico previously reported. DHS later described the test as “unsanctioned.” During congressional testimony last week, when asked by Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi whether he was “aware” of the failed exam, Gottumukkala twice responded that he did not “accept the premise of that characterization.”
Separately, Gottumukkala attempted last week to remove Costello from his post as CISA’s chief information officer, a move that was halted after other political appointees intervened.
{Matzav.com}
Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly said she does not feel sympathy for Alex Pretti, the Minnesota man who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent during a protest, arguing that his actions put him in danger.
“I know I’m supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don’t. I don’t. Do you know why I wasn’t shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my …. inside and out of their operations.”
Kelly made the remarks while discussing the incident on her program, emphasizing that the situation could have been avoided.
“It’s very simple,” Kelly said during an episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show.”
She explained that even when people feel strongly about government actions, protests should not cross certain lines. “If I felt strongly enough about something the government was doing, that I would go out and protest, I would do it peacefully on the sidewalk without interfering via a whistle, via shouting, via my body, via any other way,” she added.
The shooting has drawn bipartisan concern, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers calling for an independent review of the incident. The death marked the second fatal shooting involving a federal officer in Minneapolis this month.
Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino said Pretti approached officers while carrying a 9-millimeter handgun. However, video recorded by bystanders appears to challenge that account, showing the 37-year-old intensive care nurse holding a cellphone and assisting a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by a federal officer before Pretti himself was sprayed and forced to the ground.
None of the publicly released footage so far shows Pretti removing his legally carried firearm, for which he held a valid Minnesota permit. One video appears to show an officer removing the gun and walking away with it moments before shots were fired.
“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote in a statement on the social platform X.
That assertion was criticized by the National Rifle Association, which pushed back strongly.
“This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong,” the NRA wrote in a post addressing Essayli.
“Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the group added.
Gun Owners of America also weighed in, saying the “Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting—a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”
Essayli later responded that GOA had misrepresented the intent of his remarks.
Kelly returned to the issue on Monday, cautioning protesters in Minnesota to avoid any actions that could be perceived as resistance during demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement. She warned that “if you do anything, anything that resembles resisting, you’re in serious trouble.”
{Matzav.com}
