Feed aggregator

Nearly one-third of secular Israelis believe that Hashgacha Pratis played a role in the extraordinary rescue of the Flydubai passengers, according to a new survey revealing that belief in Divine Providence extends well beyond Israel’s religious communities.

The poll found that virtually every chareidi respondent attributed the passengers’ survival to Divine Providence, along with 94% of religious Jews and 84% of traditional Jews. Even among Israelis who identify as secular, approximately 32% acknowledged a Divine role in the rescue.

The findings, released Sunday by Arutz Sheva, come in the aftermath of the dramatic attempted hijacking of a Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Israel, during which passengers and crew intervened to prevent a potentially catastrophic crash.

The survey was conducted by the Mesaker-Rovadim Research Institute as part of the Israel Barometer project, examining how Israelis from different religious backgrounds interpreted the remarkable sequence of events that saved those aboard the aircraft.

Beyond measuring how many people believe Hashem intervened, the researchers uncovered another striking finding: Israelis differed considerably in how they described the relationship between Divine Providence and the courageous actions of the people who saved the plane.

Participants were presented with several possible explanations for the rescue, including two that explicitly recognized Divine Providence and another that attributed the outcome to human intervention and an unusual combination of circumstances.

The two religiously oriented responses were deliberately phrased differently, allowing researchers to examine whether respondents regarded Divine Providence as the primary force behind the rescue or viewed it as one element operating alongside human decisions and actions.

The first formulation described the rescue as “Divine Providence, acting through people and unique circumstances.”

The second characterized it as “A combination of human actions and unique circumstances with Divine Providence.”

Although both explanations recognize Hashem’s involvement, the distinction between them produced substantial differences across Israel’s religious communities.

Among secular Israelis, 21% selected the explanation emphasizing the combination of human efforts, circumstances and Divine Providence. Another 11% chose the formulation placing Divine Providence at the center of the rescue.

Together, those responses accounted for approximately one-third of secular participants, a notable finding given that these respondents do not identify themselves as religious.

Traditional Israelis expressed considerably greater belief in Divine intervention, with 84% selecting one of the two responses recognizing Divine Providence.

Within that group, 50% preferred the explanation emphasizing the combination of human actions and Divine Providence, while 34% selected the formulation describing Hashem’s Providence as operating through the people and circumstances involved.

A similar pattern emerged among respondents identifying with the more liberal religious community. In that category, 53% favored the combined explanation, compared with 32% who placed Divine Providence at the forefront.

Among more traditionally observant religious Israelis, however, the balance began to shift.

In the mainstream religious category, 51% chose the explanation emphasizing Divine Providence working through people and circumstances, while 44% preferred the formulation describing the rescue as a combination of human efforts and Divine intervention.

The difference became considerably more pronounced among Torah-oriented religious respondents, 75% of whom selected the explanation placing Divine Providence at the center. The remaining 25% preferred the alternative formulation, which gave greater prominence to the combination of human actions and circumstances.

The strongest preference emerged among chareidi respondents.

An overwhelming 93% of chareidim selected the explanation describing the rescue as Divine Providence operating through human actions and unusual circumstances. Only approximately 7% preferred the wording that presented Divine Providence alongside human intervention.

Taken together, the results indicate that all chareidi respondents recognized Hashgacha Pratis in the rescue, although they differed slightly in how they expressed that belief.

The survey also found that the same patterns appeared among men and women, suggesting that the differences were associated primarily with religious identification rather than gender.

Across both male and female respondents, the proportion attributing the rescue to Divine Providence increased consistently from secular Israelis through traditional and religious communities to the chareidi population.

The preference for particular wording also remained consistent. Secular and traditional respondents generally favored an explanation highlighting human actions together with Divine Providence, while more observant groups increasingly preferred language identifying Hashem’s Providence as the central force behind the outcome.

The difference is significant because both explanations recognize Divine Providence. What separates them is the emphasis placed on the actions of the people involved.

The first presents the rescue as an expression of Hashgacha Pratis, with the passengers, pilots and unusual circumstances serving as the means through which Hashem brought about their salvation.

The second gives more prominence to the courage and decisions of those aboard, while still acknowledging Divine involvement in the outcome.

{Matzav.com}

Israel has permitted Qatar to channel more than $100 million in humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip throughout the war against Hamas, including extensive fuel shipments and reconstruction initiatives involving institutions affiliated with the terrorist organization, according to information released by Qatari authorities.

The figures, published Sunday by Yisroel Hayom, reveal the scale of Doha’s continuing financial involvement in Gaza even as Israel has sought to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and prevent the organization from rebuilding its infrastructure.

Qatar, which has maintained longstanding ties with Hamas and played a central role in negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages, continued financing a wide range of activities inside Gaza during the fighting and subsequent ceasefire arrangements. The assistance included fuel deliveries, food supplies, medical equipment, water infrastructure and projects to remove debris from damaged neighborhoods.

The arrangements have raised concerns about whether Hamas has benefited from assistance intended for Gaza’s civilian population, particularly when projects are conducted through local bodies connected to the terrorist organization.

According to the Qatari figures, approximately 30 million liters of fuel were delivered to Gaza between the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, and the end of March 2026. An additional shipment of more than 1.3 million liters entered the territory by truck in September.

The fuel deliveries were coordinated through an arrangement between Qatar and the United Nations, with the stated purpose of maintaining essential services, including hospitals, humanitarian organizations and critical civilian infrastructure.

However, the substantial volume of fuel entering Gaza has prompted questions about whether Hamas could have obtained access to some of those resources or benefited indirectly from their distribution.

Fuel has been a particularly sensitive issue throughout the conflict because of its importance to civilian services as well as its potential use in transportation, generators and other activities that could support Hamas’s operations.

Israeli concerns extend beyond the fuel shipments to Qatar’s involvement in reconstruction and infrastructure projects carried out with organizations associated with Hamas.

During the summer, Qatar reportedly organized an initiative to remove rubble from hundreds of damaged residential buildings across Gaza. The work was undertaken in cooperation with institutions linked to Hamas, despite Israel’s declared objective of preventing the terrorist organization from reestablishing its governing capabilities.

Another Qatari-funded initiative involved drilling and maintenance work at more than 30 water wells, intended to restore access to water in areas affected by the fighting.

In February 2026, Doha announced an additional project to clear debris from roads throughout the Strip. That initiative was coordinated with local authorities identified as having affiliations with Hamas.

The involvement of such bodies has intensified questions about whether humanitarian projects could help preserve Hamas’s administrative networks, even when the assistance itself is designated for civilian purposes.

The latest revelations also revive longstanding concerns about Qatar’s financial relationship with Gaza’s Hamas-run administration, which predates the current war.

For years before the October 7 massacre, Qatar provided substantial financial assistance to Gaza with Israeli approval, including monthly payments intended to support impoverished families, civil servants and electricity generation.

Under earlier arrangements, Qatari money was delivered through a combination of direct payments, fuel supplies and internationally supervised mechanisms. Israel permitted many of those transfers as part of efforts to maintain stability in Gaza and prevent humanitarian conditions from deteriorating.

However, Israeli officials and security analysts have repeatedly warned that assistance directed toward civilian needs can also strengthen Hamas indirectly by allowing the organization to devote other resources to its military infrastructure.

Previous arrangements demonstrated how complicated that distinction can become. In 2021, Qatar and Egypt discussed a mechanism under which fuel supplied to Gaza would be sold locally, with the proceeds used to pay public-sector salaries, including employees working under the Hamas administration.

The current report raises similar concerns about the relationship between humanitarian assistance and the financial resources available to Hamas, although it does not establish that the entire $100 million was diverted to terrorist activity.

The central question is whether sufficient oversight exists to ensure that Qatari-funded projects benefit civilians without enabling Hamas to retain control over essential services or strengthen its governing institutions.

Despite those concerns, Israel has continued allowing Qatari humanitarian activities in Gaza, including deliveries coordinated through international organizations and infrastructure projects involving local authorities.

The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to crash a Flydubai passenger aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport began planning the terrorist attack as far back as 2017, according to new information released by prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates, as an official familiar with the country’s leadership indicated that the suspect faces an exceptionally severe punishment.

The suspect, identified as Hammam al-Hamami, allegedly intended to carry out a September 11-style attack by deliberately flying the passenger jet into the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, potentially killing hundreds of passengers and airport personnel.

A source close to the Emirati government told Israel’s Kan News on Motzoei Shabbos that the authorities intend to treat the attempted attack with the utmost seriousness.

“The punishment imposed on him will not be minor, but extremely significant,” the source said.

The warning came as the UAE’s attorney general issued a third public update on the investigation, revealing new details about the suspect’s preparations and the security failures that allowed him to continue working as a commercial airline pilot.

According to prosecutors, al-Hamami told investigators that he first began developing his plans in 2017, when he was living in Australia. The disclosure indicates that the alleged attack was the culmination of years of planning rather than a spontaneous decision made during the flight.

Investigators also confirmed that the intended target was the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, with the suspect seeking to replicate the devastation of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

The investigation found that al-Hamami had previously operated two flights to Israel and allegedly used those assignments to gather information about the flight route and the airport he intended to attack.

Those earlier flights provided him with opportunities to familiarize himself with the approach to Ben Gurion Airport and other operational details that could have assisted in carrying out the attack.

The new findings also shed light on the suspect’s earlier exposure to extremist ideology. UAE prosecutors say al-Hamami became radicalized while studying in Melbourne, Australia, where he attended RMIT University between 2015 and 2017. Investigators believe he consumed extremist propaganda and became increasingly fascinated with the September 11 attacks.

The 29-year-old reportedly underwent physical training, including boxing, as part of his preparations. Australian authorities are now examining his activities and contacts during his time in the country, with the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation participating in the investigation.

The investigation has also raised questions about how the suspect was permitted to serve as a pilot on flights to Israel despite earlier indications of extremist views.

Omani aviation authorities had previously prevented al-Hamami from operating passenger aircraft because of concerns about his radicalization. Reports indicate that he was removed from flying duties at Oman Air and transferred to an administrative position.

Nevertheless, he subsequently obtained employment with Flydubai, joining the airline in January 2026. According to Emirati authorities, he satisfied the company’s required professional qualifications and security screening procedures, which failed to identify the threat he allegedly posed.

The incident has exposed serious questions about the effectiveness of aviation security checks and the sharing of information between airlines and national authorities.

During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Israel, al-Hamami allegedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The plane entered a dangerous descent before passengers and crew intervened and subdued the attacker.

The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, was ultimately diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

The UAE investigation is examining whether al-Hamami received assistance or instructions from anyone else. During questioning, the suspect reportedly insisted that he acted independently and that no organization or outside individual directed the operation.

Prosecutors have not accepted that claim as the final word on the matter and are continuing to investigate possible accomplices or other connections.

The frequent public announcements from Emirati prosecutors have themselves attracted attention, with officials releasing several detailed updates while the investigation remains underway.

An Emirati source familiar with the thinking of senior government figures, although not speaking in an official capacity, explained to Kan News that the disclosures are intended to demonstrate the country’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law.

“The message from our perspective is that the Emirates operates transparently and that we are a country of justice and law,” the source said.

The investigation has also prompted Israeli authorities to examine how a pilot from Oman, a country that does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel, was permitted to operate a flight to Ben Gurion Airport.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered a review of the security arrangements governing foreign airlines flying to Israel, including the procedures used to screen flight crews.

With investigators now tracing the suspect’s alleged terrorist intentions back nearly a decade, attention is increasingly focused on how numerous warning signs went undetected or failed to prevent him from entering the cockpit of an aircraft bound for Israel.

{Matzav.com}

The miraculous rescue of 174 people aboard a Flydubai aircraft that was nearly crashed into Ben Gurion Airport involved at least twelve extraordinary developments, each of which played a crucial role in preventing a catastrophe that could have claimed hundreds of lives.

The attempted attack, which took place during Chol Hamoed Sukkos, ended with the passengers and crew surviving a terrifying plunge of thousands of meters after a member of the flight crew allegedly attempted to bring down the aircraft. The plane was ultimately brought under control and landed safely, despite damage sustained during the ordeal.

The magnitude of the nissim becomes even more apparent in light of the Houthi attack on Riyadh’s airport this Shabbos, which reportedly damaged aircraft and airport facilities and injured numerous people. The destruction demonstrated how devastating an attack on a major airport can be, and how much greater the tragedy at Ben Gurion Airport could have been had the Flydubai terrorist succeeded.

A closer examination of the incident reveals at least twelve distinct moments in which the passengers were spared from disaster, followed by an even broader series of potentially devastating consequences that were avoided.

The first neis involved the timing of the attack itself. Information that emerged this past week indicated that the suspected terrorist had flown a Flydubai aircraft to Israel approximately three months earlier and had already considered crashing that plane. However, an undisclosed personal relationship with another crew member reportedly caused him to abandon the plan and postpone it.

Had he proceeded with the earlier attempt, the circumstances would likely have been considerably different. The Indian pilot who later fought to save the aircraft might not have been aboard, Yaniv Chayun would probably not have been among the passengers, and the replacement pilots who assisted in the rescue might also have been absent. Ben Gurion Airport was also substantially busier during that earlier period, potentially placing many more people in danger.

The second neis was the presence of the Indian pilot, who struggled against the attacker and succeeded in opening the cockpit door, creating an opportunity for others to intervene.

The third involved a young girl and her mother, who heard desperate screams coming from the cockpit and realized that a serious emergency was unfolding. Their awareness helped alert those around them to the danger.

The fourth was the response of four courageous passengers who recognized what was happening and immediately rushed forward to confront the terrorist.

The fifth was their extraordinary success in overpowering an armed attacker with their bare hands while the aircraft was plunging toward the ground. The passengers were fighting for their lives as the plane descended thousands of meters in little more than half a minute, subjecting everyone aboard to tremendous physical forces.

The aircraft reportedly approached the speed of sound during the descent. Aviation experts have described the strain generated by such a maneuver as enormous, with the combination of speed and gravitational forces placing exceptional pressure on the aircraft and its occupants.

The sixth neis was that the aircraft’s structure remained intact. Despite the extreme forces generated by the dive, the fuselage did not crack or begin breaking apart, allowing the plane to remain capable of recovery.

The seventh was Chayun’s previous familiarity with the aircraft’s controls. Having learned how to operate them, he was able to assist in pulling the plane out of its descent and restoring stability.

The eighth was the precise manner in which he handled those controls. A pilot interviewed by The Jerusalem Post explained that pulling back too forcefully during such a steep dive could have caused the aircraft to disintegrate.

“If Yaniv Chayun had pulled the controls sharply upward during the dive, he would have crashed the plane. The aircraft would have broken apart in midair and would not have withstood it,” the pilot explained.

The pilot indicated that Chayun apparently applied pressure gradually, allowing the aircraft to recover without subjecting it to an abrupt and potentially catastrophic change in direction.

“Apparently, he pulled the controls backward in a more gradual and gentle manner. Combined with the aircraft’s characteristics and the autopilot system, this allowed the plane to recover from the dive,” he said.

The ninth neis was the presence of replacement pilots aboard the flight. Their availability provided additional trained personnel at the very moment when experienced assistance was desperately needed.

The tenth was that none of the passengers was killed or suffered life-threatening injuries despite the aircraft’s violent descent. The plane had plunged thousands of meters in approximately half a minute, yet everyone aboard survived.

The eleventh was the terrorist’s failure to destroy the aircraft’s control buttons and systems, something he reportedly intended to do to prevent anyone from regaining control.

The twelfth was the successful landing itself. Part of the aircraft’s rudder had reportedly been damaged during the dive, creating additional difficulties in controlling the plane. Nevertheless, the pilots managed to bring the aircraft down safely on the runway.

Each of these twelve developments played a significant role in the rescue. Had even one unfolded differently, the outcome could have been catastrophic.

But the nissim extended far beyond the survival of the 174 people aboard.

The terrorist’s alleged objective was to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport, potentially killing hundreds of additional people on the ground. Airport employees, passengers awaiting flights, security personnel and others inside the terminal and surrounding facilities could all have been placed in immediate danger.

The consequences of such an attack might also have extended into Israel’s broader security situation.

A successful attack on Ben Gurion Airport could have triggered a major military confrontation with Iran, particularly if evidence emerged linking Tehran to the attempted hijacking. Israeli rescue organizations and emergency personnel would have been occupied with the aftermath of a mass-casualty disaster just as the country potentially faced another round of fighting.

There was also the possibility that hostile forces elsewhere in the region would attempt to exploit the chaos. Terrorist organizations in Gaza, hostile elements in Yehudah and Shomron, or other groups could have viewed the emergency as an opportunity to launch additional attacks while Israel’s security forces were responding to the catastrophe.

The third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, marked just days ago, serves as a painful reminder of the dangers posed by simultaneous attacks and the immense difficulties involved in responding to a national emergency.

A successful aviation attack could also have encouraged other extremists to attempt similar acts against aircraft carrying Israeli passengers, raising the possibility of further threats to civilian aviation.

The political consequences might have been enormous as well.

With Israeli elections approaching, a devastating terrorist attack on the country’s principal airport could have generated widespread public outrage, fierce criticism of the Netanyahu government and demands for accountability over how the attack had been permitted to occur.

The resulting political upheaval might have influenced the election and brought significant changes to Israel’s leadership and security policies. Such possibilities remain hypothetical, but they underscore how far-reaching the consequences of a successful attack could have been.

The rescue also brings to mind another extraordinary chapter in Jewish history: the rescue of Jewish hostages from Entebbe in 1976.

Fifty years ago, during Simchas Torah 5737, the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke extensively about the rescue operation that had taken place earlier that summer. At the time, some voices in the religious world had questioned whether it was appropriate to celebrate a military rescue carried out by Jews who were not personally observant.

The Rebbe, together with many other leading rabbonim, emphasized that the rescue of Jewish lives was an occasion for tremendous gratitude to the Ribbono Shel Olam. The soldiers who placed themselves in mortal danger to save fellow Jews had performed an extraordinary act of courage and sacrifice.

The Entebbe operation rescued approximately 105 Jewish and Israeli hostages, although it came at a terrible cost. Its commander, Yoni Netanyahu, was killed, along with three hostages. Another Jewish hostage, Dora Bloch, who had been transferred to a hospital, was subsequently murdered by Ugandan forces acting on the orders of dictator Idi Amin. Hy’d.

In the Flydubai rescue, all 174 people aboard survived, and no Jewish passenger suffered a life-threatening injury.

The events also give renewed meaning to the words of Hallel, “Ki gavar aleinu chasdo,” expressing gratitude for the extraordinary kindness of Hashem.

As Klal Yisroel emerged from Sukkos and Simchas Torah, the rescue provided a powerful reminder of the nissim that can unfold within a matter of seconds, when an entire aircraft and the lives of those aboard hang in the balance.

These twelve moments of salvation aboard the Flydubai flight, together with the countless dangers that were prevented, offer abundant reason to thank the Ribbono Shel Olam for His protection of Klal Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}