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The United Kingdom is preparing to head a multinational initiative aimed at removing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the flow of oil tankers, according to new reports, as global concern mounts over disruptions to one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

British officials are reportedly working to convene a gathering of roughly 30 countries that have already agreed to contribute “appropriate efforts” toward reopening the strait, Politico reported. The move reflects growing coordination among U.S. allies to stabilize the region’s maritime routes.

As part of that effort, the UK is considering dispatching a Royal Navy minesweeper or contracting a civilian vessel capable of deploying mine-clearing drones into the affected waters, according to The Times.

Intelligence assessments indicate that Iran has placed at least a dozen naval mines in the narrow passage, posing a serious threat to commercial vessels. U.S. officials told CBS News that the devices identified include Iranian-produced Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines.

These explosives present a major hazard to any ship attempting to pass through the strait, effectively choking off a corridor responsible for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Despite the danger, British authorities believe a navigable route remains open, as several tankers have recently succeeded in passing through the chokepoint without incident, according to reports.

The Maham 3 mines, weighing over 660 pounds, are equipped with magnetic and acoustic sensors and can latch onto vessels that come within close proximity—about 10 feet—based on information from the Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance database.

The Maham 7, referred to as a “sticking mine,” is a smaller limpet device that lies on the seabed and uses similar sensor technology to target mid-sized ships and amphibious craft.

Weighing approximately 485 pounds and first unveiled publicly in a 2015 weapons exhibition, the Maham 7 is considered difficult to detect, with the ability to interfere with sonar systems and complicate minesweeping operations.

According to the U.S. military, at least 44 Iranian vessels involved in deploying mines have been destroyed since the conflict began.

Although there is no precise tally, estimates suggest Iran maintains a stockpile of between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines.

Even amid the heightened threat, ships from India, Pakistan, and China have reportedly continued transiting the strait without encountering mines or drone attacks.

Huax, a maritime intelligence company based in Germany and Italy, has indicated that vessels successfully navigating the route may be transmitting a specific signal to indicate safe passage, The Times reported.

“Whether they are signals to Tehran or internal fleet identifiers, we cannot confirm, but the signals are coordinated across multiple vessels,” Arsenio Longo, a maritime intelligence expert at Huax, told the outlet.

“Indian and China-linked vessels appear to be transiting or staging for transit while virtually all other commercial traffic remains blocked,” he added.

Iran has stated that all countries—aside from the United States, Israel, and their allies—are permitted to pass through the strait, a position that has led to increased tensions with President Trump over the weekend.

President Trump has called on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway following sharp increases in global oil prices, as reports suggest indirect discussions may be underway between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the conflict.

In addition to mine-clearing operations, the UK is expected to deploy Type 45 destroyers to escort and protect oil tankers navigating the strait, according to The Times.

The British-led initiative signals that key U.S. allies are beginning to align more closely with President Trump’s push to resume energy shipments through Hormuz, even as some had previously voiced opposition to the war.

A total of 30 countries have signed a joint declaration committing to efforts to secure the waterway.

Participating nations include France, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Iran, for its part, has warned that it will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until both the United States and Israel agree to end the war and compensate Tehran.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces should establish the Litani River as the Jewish state’s “new border with the Lebanese state,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared.

The ongoing campaign against Hezbollah “must end with a radical change” beyond the vanquishing of the Iranian-backed terror group, the senior Cabinet minister told reporters during a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism Party at the Knesset in Yerushalayim.

“The Litani [River] must be our new border with the Lebanese state, just like the Yellow Line in Gaza and like the buffer zone and peak of the Hermon in Syria,” said Smotrich.

The Litani River lies some 20 miles north of the Blue Line, which currently demarcates the unofficial border between Israel and Lebanon.

“We must not return to the Oct. 6 situation where the enemy is on our fences,” Smotrich continued, in reference to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre. “We’ll push him away on all fronts and create a sterile security cordon that will separate the enemy from our citizens,” he said.

“Today, we are evacuating the residents of Southern Lebanon. We are destroying the terrorist villages and rebuilding the northern communities,” he declared.

Hezbollah again began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the regime on Feb. 28.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.

Responding to Smotrich’s remarks on Monday, fellow Religious Zionism Party lawmaker Simcha Rothman told JNS that the principle of not allowing terrorists in close proximity to Israeli civilians should apply equally to Lebanon and Gaza.

“When you share a border with a sovereign country that protects that border and does not seek to harm you, that is one thing,” said Rothman. “But when the border is with a terrorist organization, that is not something any country—certainly not the State of Israel—should accept.”

“Israel must ensure that its border is not situated near northern towns and civilian populations, and that the IDF is able to carry out its duty to protect citizens,” he added.

“Before Oct. 7 and the IDF’s operations in Lebanon, Hezbollah terrorists were positioned just meters from civilians. No one can accept that level of danger,” he said.

Addressing why such a policy was not implemented earlier, Rothman invoked the Hebrew term “conceptzia”—referring to a flawed strategic mindset that guided Israeli policy for years, but has since shifted.

“My party and I did not need the events of Oct. 7 to understand this,” he said. “Unfortunately, some only adopted this view afterward. They were operating under illusions of peace and prosperity with terrorist organizations—ideas that have proven irrelevant.”

“We have all seen what these groups are capable of,” he added. “Hezbollah forces are no less capable than Hamas’s Nukhba Force terrorists of carrying out attacks like those of Oct. 7.”

Addressing Lebanon’s sovereignty, Rothman argued that the country cannot be considered fully sovereign while allowing a terrorist organization to operate freely along its own southern border.

“The right of any country to self-defense must prevail,” he said. “If Lebanon is sovereign, then it is effectively attacking our civilians daily. If it is responsible for what happens on its territory, it has forfeited its ability to control that land while Hezbollah continues to fire on our civilians from there.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on March 12 that if Lebanon’s official government fails to prevent Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on the Jewish state, Jerusalem would “take control of the territory and do it ourselves.”

“The prime minister and I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare to expand its operations in Lebanon and to restore quiet and security to the northern communities,” the defense minister stated.

During a situational assessment on Tuesday, Katz again emphasized that “hundreds of thousands of residents of Southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River until security for the residents of the north is ensured.”

“The IDF is maneuvering into Lebanese territory to establish a forward defensive line, eliminating Hezbollah terrorists and destroying the terror infrastructure built there … in order to create a defensive buffer and push the threat away from Israeli communities,” he added.

Overnight Monday, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and across Lebanon, the military said in a separate statement.

The strikes in Lebanon’s capital targeted several Hezbollah headquarters, including bases of its Radwan Force, “from which terrorists operated to advance and execute terror attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians,” it said. The IDF also struck a headquarters of Hezbollah’s intelligence branch, it said.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization operates systematically from civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, from which it advances terrorist activity that harms the civilians of the State of Israel and endangers Lebanese citizens,” the army noted.

The IDF also struck a “key crossing used by Hezbollah terrorists to move from north to south across the Litani River,” it said, accusing the terror group of having used the bridge to transfer weapons with which to carry out attacks on IDF soldiers.

“The strike adds to other crossings that were struck over the past week,” it stated.

Meanwhile, ground troops of the IDF’s 810th Brigade located a Hezbollah tunnel shaft and weapons compound during operations in the Mount Dov area close to the Blue Line, according to another statement on Tuesday.

“The IDF is operating decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in response to its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terror regime, it said. “The IDF acts to remove threats to civilians of the State of Israel.”

Likud Party lawmaker Moshe Passal told JNS on Tuesday that if Lebanon’s Shi’ite population continues to fight Israel, fire rockets and build capabilities to carry out attacks, more far-reaching measures may be required.

“Following Oct. 7, we neutralized along the border Hezbollah’s preparations to invade the Galilee. If the Lebanese government can act on its own and dismantle Hezbollah, that would be ideal—but if not, there will be a line at the Litani River,” he said.

“Others could live there—Druze or anyone not affiliated with Hezbollah—people who seek good neighborly relations and peace, and we would welcome that,” he added.

Passal argued that Hezbollah and the Shi’ite population in Lebanon are closely intertwined.

“In civilian homes, we found bunkers, weapons and preparations for attacks,” he said. “The Shi’ite population must decide whether it wants to disarm and live in peace, or otherwise relocate.”

“Israel cannot continue this cycle for another two, three or five years—fighting wars only to return to the same situation,” he added. “We need a long-term solution that will last for generations, not a temporary fix.” JNS

Four new ambulances have been brought in to replace emergency vehicles destroyed in a suspected antisemitic arson attack targeting a Jewish volunteer medical organization in north London, as authorities continue to investigate possible international links behind the incident.

The vehicles, operated by Hatzola, were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green during the early hours of Monday morning, destroying four ambulances and prompting an inquiry led by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command.

No suspects have been taken into custody so far. However, police indicated they are examining the potential involvement of an Islamist organization believed to have ties to Iran, which has claimed responsibility for similar attacks elsewhere in Europe.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government will fund the replacement ambulances, which are currently being provided on a temporary basis until permanent units are secured.

“The Jewish community should not bear the cost of this hatred,” Streeting said.
“This moment demands more than practical support. The Jewish community will not stand alone – the government and this entire country stand with them.
“The answer cannot simply be higher walls, thicker doors, more CCTV. We also have to deal with this hatred at its source. We have to confront and beat the evil ideas that are permeating in our society.”

Investigators believe three individuals were involved in carrying out the attack, which authorities have classified as a hate crime motivated by antisemitism. Although it has not officially been labeled a terrorist act, the Met confirmed that counter-terror officers are leading the case due to the nature of the incident and the expertise required.

Police have launched an online portal asking the public to submit any relevant video footage or information that could assist in identifying those responsible.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced enhanced security measures across London, including the deployment of 264 additional officers to safeguard Jewish communities, along with “additional highly visible firearms patrols”.

By Tuesday morning, police had removed the security cordon at the site, leaving behind the charred remains of the destroyed ambulances.

Nearby, at the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, damage from the blaze was evident. Medical equipment inside the burned vehicles was left ruined, shattered glass covered the ground, and the synagogue’s stained glass windows were cracked. Windows in a neighboring residential building, reaching as high as the fourth floor, had also been blown out and boarded up, apparently due to exploding oxygen tanks.

Damon Hoff, president of the synagogue, commended emergency responders for their swift action and noted that most of the damage was limited to the building’s exterior.

“Clearly this was planned,” Hoff told the BBC.
“This wasn’t just something that happened.
“All indications are, from what we’ve been told, is there was definitely surveillance and all indications are that we need to be aware that there is surveillance on our communities and infrastructure.”

Hoff also said the synagogue sustained roof damage in addition to the shattered stained glass.

Earlier in the day, Met Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that incidents of this nature have a significant emotional and psychological effect on Jewish communities.

He noted that plots linked to Iran and disrupted in the UK since October 2024 have included “everything from assassination, to kidnap, to espionage”.

Taylor added that investigators are exploring whether the latest attack was supported by Iran, though determining the motive remains a key focus of the inquiry.

An Iran-aligned organization, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — also known as The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand — claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel, though officials have not verified the claim.

The same group has also taken credit for other recent incidents across Europe, including an attack on a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, as well as explosions targeting a synagogue in Rotterdam and a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

Recalling the moments after the fire broke out, Hoff said he and fellow congregants rushed to the synagogue out of concern for the safety of the Torah scrolls, the most sacred items housed in the building.

He described it as “a miracle” that the interior of the synagogue was largely spared, and confirmed that prayers resumed there on Tuesday.

As the replacement ambulances arrived in Golders Green, the London Ambulance Service expressed its solidarity with Hatzola, stating that it stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the organization.

Hatzola, a volunteer-run emergency service, has been operating in Golders Green since 1979, serving a large Jewish population in the area. The neighborhood is home to dozens of synagogues, and nearly half of its residents identify as Jewish, according to official data.

The organization, whose name means “rescue” in Hebrew, provides free emergency medical care and transportation to hospitals through a network of trained volunteer medics.

In addition to north London, Hatzola operates in Manchester, Gateshead, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire, working alongside public emergency services to assist people of all backgrounds.

In the wake of the attack, fundraising efforts have generated more than £1.3 million across several GoFundMe campaigns to support the organization.

Hatzola chairman Shloimie Richman said the funds raised will be used to establish a new, more secure headquarters.

Following the arrival of the replacement ambulances, Richman issued a statement describing Monday as the most difficult day in the organization’s history.

He said: “The irony is here that you have vehicles that are used for life-saving work and transfer to hospital, and those are being targeted in an arson attack.
“It just kind of makes you feel you know, what kind of world are we living in currently?”

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran had delivered what he described as a “very big present” to the United States, pointing to the move as a sign of progress in negotiations taking place during the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump dismissed the notion that trust plays any role in his dealings with Tehran. When asked why he would rely on Iranian commitments, he replied, “I don’t trust anybody. I don’t trust you. I mean, that’s only because I know you. But if I didn’t know you, I’d probably have more trust. But I don’t trust anyone.”

He challenged the premise of the question itself, making clear that trust is not a factor in his approach. “Why do you say that? Why do you say what makes you trust? Do you think I trust them? I don’t trust them.”

.@POTUS provides an update on discussions amid Operation Epic Fury pic.twitter.com/3P6gH4ku8t

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 24, 2026

Despite that stance, Trump said negotiations were continuing because he believes an agreement is within reach. “Because they’re going to make a deal. They’re going to make a deal.”

The president pointed to a recent development he described as significant evidence that talks are moving forward. “They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present, and the present arrived today. It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money. And I’m not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize, and they gave it to us.”

He clarified that the action was not connected to nuclear matters, but rather involved energy resources. “No, it wasn’t nuclear-related. It was oil and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did.”

Trump said the gesture reinforced his view that U.S. negotiators are dealing with the right figures in Iran’s leadership, which he claimed has been largely dismantled. “What it showed me is that we’re dealing with the right people,” he said, noting that much of Iran’s leadership had been eliminated. “The leadership was killed, all gone. Khamenei, all gone, as the expression goes. The past Supreme Leader. And then the new Supreme Leader was racked up – at a minimum, racked up pretty good. And everyone else was gone.”

He added that lower-level officials have also been removed, but emphasized that those currently in place have followed through on their commitments. “The present, the gift they made to us, was very significant. And they said they were going to do it, and it happened. And they’re the only ones that could have done it.”

When pressed on whether the development was tied to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump confirmed the connection. “Yeah, it was related to the flow and to the Strait,” he said.

He rejected the idea that talks were centered on negotiating control of the strategic passage. “No, we’re going to – we’ll have control of anything we want,” Trump stated.

Trump said he would prefer to bring the conflict to a close without further destruction or loss of life. “If we can end this without more lives being lost, without knocking out $10 billion electric plants that are brand new and the apple of their eye, I’d like to be able to do that,” he said.

At the same time, he reiterated that key demands remain non-negotiable. “They can’t have certain things. I mean, you know the things. I don’t have to go over the list, but again, it starts with no nuclear weapons, and they’ve agreed to that. There won’t be any nuclear weapons. They’re not going to have – and they’re not going to have enrichment, any of those things.”

Trump said the United States is currently negotiating from a position of strength. “I hate to say that we’re in a very good bargaining position, but – and I hate to say that they’re defenseless, because, you know, until that last missile is fired, they have a little power. But we are in about the best bargaining position. We’re way ahead of schedule.”

He also described what he said was extensive damage to Iran’s military capabilities. “They have no Navy, and they have no Air Force, and they have no missile protection, and most of their missiles are gone. Most of their launchers we’ve killed – you know, we’ve killed about 82 percent of their launchers. So, even if they had a missile, they can’t launch it.”

Trump closed by underscoring U.S. military superiority. “We have the greatest military in the world. Nobody even comes close. We have the best military equipment in the world.”

Delta Air Lines has pulled back certain privileges previously extended to members of Congress, citing the ongoing failure to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

The airline has temporarily shut down its dedicated congressional desk services for lawmakers and Capitol Hill staff, a move that will remain in effect until DHS funding is restored after a partial shutdown that began on Feb. 28.

“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the company said in a statement first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Next to safety, Delta’s No. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”

Perks that had been available to lawmakers—such as airport escorts and access to red coat assistance—have been put on hold. While Delta’s Capitol Desk reservation line is still operating, lawmakers will now be “treated as any passenger based on their respective SkyMiles status” for the time being.

The decision follows sharp criticism from Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who last week condemned Congress for allowing DHS funding to lapse, leaving Transportation Security Administration employees without full pay for more than a month.

Bastian described the situation as “inexcusable” and accused lawmakers of treating TSA personnel as “political chips.”

“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid, and it’s ridiculous to see them being used as political chips,” Bastian told CNBC last Tuesday. “We’re outraged.”

Delta is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The funding lapse has had visible effects at major travel hubs. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in particular, has seen TSA wait times exceed four hours, with lines extending beyond terminal buildings.

Nationwide, staffing shortages have driven sharp increases in TSA absenteeism. Call-out rates, previously around 2%, have surged past 10% since the shutdown began, according to acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl.

Nearly 400 TSA employees have resigned since the partial shutdown took effect.

Stahl has also cautioned that if the funding gap continues, some smaller airports could be forced to suspend operations.

TSA employees last received a full paycheck on Feb. 14. They were issued a partial paycheck on Feb. 28 and missed their next scheduled pay period on March 13, according to an agency spokesperson. Their next payday is set for Friday.

The impasse in Congress continues, with Democrats using the Senate filibuster to block a DHS funding bill in an effort to secure broader changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Republicans have pushed back against proposals to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from wearing masks and to impose stricter judicial warrant requirements.

On Monday, President Trump ordered ICE personnel to be deployed to airports nationwide to help relieve pressure on TSA staffing caused by the shutdown.

This marks the third funding lapse affecting TSA workers within the past six months.

President Trump recently dismissed a proposal that would fund most DHS operations separately while addressing ICE funding through the reconciliation process.

“I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,’” Trump declared on Truth Social over the weekend.

Separately, a measure introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) cleared the Senate unanimously last week. The bill would eliminate certain travel privileges for lawmakers, including the ability to bypass standard TSA security screening, though it has yet to pass the House.

Some lawmakers have floated additional measures, including proposals to withhold congressional pay. However, such changes cannot take effect until the next Congress under the 27th Amendment.

A 27-year-old woman was killed Tuesday evening when a heavy rocket barrage fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon struck northern Israel, as additional missile fire elsewhere left several others injured.

Nuriel Dubin, a resident of Moshav Margaliot, was fatally wounded when rockets and shrapnel struck the Machanayim Junction area. Two other individuals sustained minor injuries in the same incident.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom arrived rapidly and attempted to save Dubin’s life, administering urgent medical care at the scene, but ultimately had to declare her dead.

Security personnel and rescue teams continued searching nearby locations to ensure there were no further casualties or damage resulting from the widespread rocket attack.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, a Bedouin doctor was seriously wounded when a missile launched from Iran struck, while his wife and two young children suffered light injuries.

The injured man, who works as a physician at Soroka Hospital, had just returned home following an extended shift and had gone to rest when the missile hit.

Magen David Adom crews treated the family members at the scene before transporting them to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. Air raid sirens were triggered across the Negev and the Gaza border region during the attack.

The Department of War is preparing to send thousands of troops from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to a source familiar with the planning.

The Pentagon is expected to formally unveil the deployment of a 3,000-soldier brigade combat team from the elite North Carolina-based division in support of the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, The Wall Street Journal first reported.

The 82nd Airborne Division is one of the military’s top rapid-response units, built to mobilize quickly in crisis situations. It is capable of sending a battalion into action within 18 hours and deploying an entire brigade within 72 hours.

According to the Journal, defense officials are likely to publicly confirm the deployment of the brigade combat team in the coming days.

Because of its speed and readiness, the 82nd Airborne is often placed on heightened alert and is frequently among the first forces considered for emerging global conflicts.

It remains unclear when the troops would arrive in the region or what their precise mission would be if the deployment goes forward.

The Pentagon has not issued any official confirmation regarding the reported plans.

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, welcomed the Knesset’s approval of the arbitration law on Monday night, calling it a long-overdue correction of an ongoing historical injustice affecting both the public and rabbinical judges.

He explained: “One must understand the absurdity: for years, anyone who wished to conduct arbitration in monetary matters could do so in any forum—except before rabbinical judges in rabbinical courts.”

He continued: “This is an absurd and outrageous situation, both for the public that wishes to adjudicate according to Torah law and for the judges who studied for years and developed expertise in these areas. The authorities seemingly recognize the judgment of everyone—except the judgment of Torah scholars who have spent many years mastering monetary law. This is an unacceptable situation, especially in a Jewish state.”

The Chief Rabbi noted that the need to correct this issue has long been clear to anyone familiar with it and has drawn agreement across different sectors. He said: “At the ceremony for appointing judges at the President’s Residence, I spoke about this issue, and there was broad consensus across the board.”

He also expressed gratitude to those who advanced the legislation, particularly MK Moshe Gafni, stating: “who for many years worked behind the scenes with determination to formulate the legal and political framework that would allow for its approval—as indeed occurred last night in the Knesset plenum.”

Iran has informed member states of the International Maritime Organization that it will allow “non-hostile vessels” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Financial Times, in what could mark a notable shift in regional maritime conditions.

The development carries significant global implications, as roughly 20 million barrels of oil move through the strategic waterway each day, making it one of the most critical chokepoints for international energy supplies.

Iran told countries that belong to the International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile vessels” can transmit the Strait of Hormuz.

It remains uncertain whether this step is connected to comments made by President Donald Trump, who said Iran had delivered a gesture that was “worth a tremendous amount of money.” Trump did not specify what the gesture was, only noting that it arrived Tuesday and related to the strait.

Officials at the White House did not immediately provide clarification when asked about the matter.

{Matzav.com}

Uriyah Sarousi z”l, a 48-year-old resident of Har Bracha and father of eight, drowned in the Jordan River on Tuesday after jumping into the water to rescue his son, who had been swept away. Members of his community mourned his passing, describing him as a man of gentility and chesed.

Sarousi had been on a trip in the north when his son entered the water and got into distress. He immediately jumped in after him and successfully brought his son to safety, but did not have the strength to make it out himself. Rescue teams at the scene later pronounced him dead.

He had volunteered for reserve duty, where he worked on technological solutions aimed at saving the lives of soldiers.

Following the tragedy, professional teams from the Shomron Regional Council and the community of Har Bracha have been assisting the family and supporting residents of the community.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, paid tribute, saying: “We embrace the Sarousi family and the Har Bracha community during this difficult time. Uriyah was a fighter in his soul, both in reserve duty and in his civilian life, a man of kindness, and his final act of heroism—when he jumped without hesitation into the river to save his son—is a pure reflection of who he was: a man of self-sacrifice, love, and responsibility.”

He added: “The Shomron lost a precious individual today, a pillar of strength for his family and a fighter who always stepped forward when called. We embrace the family. The council team is supporting the community and will continue to assist the family in whatever is needed. May his memory be blessed.”

The Har Bracha emergency response team also issued a statement: “With deep sorrow and shock, we announce the passing of a resident of the community, Uriyah Sarousi z”l. During a trip in the north, his son entered the water and encountered distress. Uriyah entered the water to assist and succeeded in rescuing his son safely, but his strength gave out, and rescue forces at the scene determined his death.”

The community added: “The community’s emergency teams are in contact with the family and are supporting them at this time. Details regarding the funeral will be announced later. We embrace Tehila, the children, and his sister Orit Kayam. ‘Death will be swallowed forever, and Hashem will wipe away tears from every face.'”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said that Iran has accepted his central demand for ending the war, stating that Tehran has agreed it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

“They’ve agreed,” he said. “They will never have a nuclear weapon. They’ve agreed to that.”

Iran has not publicly confirmed such an agreement and has denied engaging in any talks with the United States.

Trump has repeatedly made clear that a commitment by Iran to forgo nuclear weapons is a key condition for halting the ongoing US military campaign.

{Matzav.com}

Seven people were injured Tuesday afternoon when missiles fired from Iran struck multiple locations in central Israel, causing damage in Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah, Rosh HaAyin, and Givat Shmuel.

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel and Yerushalayim as the barrage was launched. At least one of the missiles, reportedly equipped with a cluster warhead, was not intercepted. Several impact sites sustained damage, including a vehicle that overturned in Rosh HaAyin and a balcony that collapsed in Bnei Brak.

In Bnei Brak, seven people were wounded in one of the strike sites. A 23-year-old man sustained moderate injuries from shrapnel, while six others were lightly hurt, including an infant. An 80-year-old woman and a boy around 10 years old were also among those receiving initial medical treatment.

According to Magen David Adom, medics and paramedics treated the injured at the scene and evacuated them to hospitals. “In the Bnei Brak area, MDA teams are providing medical treatment and evacuating seven injured individuals, including a 23-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds and six others in light condition, including a baby. Further updates will be provided as necessary.”

A separate impact involving a cluster-type munition was reported in Petach Tikvah as part of the same barrage targeting central Israel and Yerushalayim. Security and rescue forces are operating at the scene and conducting searches, though no injuries had been reported there at the time.

Fire and rescue officials reported multiple incident sites. In Bnei Brak, firefighting teams responded to three separate locations. The primary site involved extensive destruction after a munition struck a four-story residential building, causing significant surrounding damage. One person in moderate condition was evacuated, and crews continued searching the structure to ensure no one remained trapped.

At a second site in Bnei Brak, another munition struck a four-story building, prompting additional searches by emergency crews. A third site involved shrapnel hitting a balcony in a building in Givat Shmuel.

In the central district, responders handled three sites in Petach Tikvah and another in Rosh HaAyin. In Rosh HaAyin, shrapnel fell in an open area. In Petach Tikvah, one site involved debris from an interception landing between residential buildings, while another sustained a direct hit on a structure without reported injuries.

Earlier in the evening, a separate attack from Lebanon resulted in the death of a woman in her 30s. Emergency responders treated two additional individuals who were lightly injured.

According to a preliminary investigation, the woman had pulled over to the side of the road during the siren. She and another man lay down in a roadside ditch when the rocket struck just a few meters away. She was killed at the scene, while the man sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched approximately 30 rockets toward northern communities, along with drone incursions. Sirens were activated across multiple towns in the Upper and Western Galilee.

Magen David Adom reported that crews found the woman with no signs of life and severe multi-system injuries, and her death was pronounced at the scene. Additional teams treated two others for light shrapnel injuries.

Mr. Tibor Kupferstein, a Holocaust survivor who rebuilt his life with extraordinary strength, dignity, and simchas hachayim, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, creativity, and deep devotion to preserving Jewish history.

His levayah is taking place at Beis Tefilah of Inwood, located at 259 Doughty Boulevard in Inwood, NY.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Kupferstein endured the horrors of the Holocaust, surviving the brutality of Mauthausen, including death marches and imprisonment under unimaginable conditions. Yet those who knew him often marveled that despite all he endured, he carried himself with a spirit of life, warmth, and joy that could not be extinguished.

In 1948, he arrived in the United States determined to rebuild. He pursued higher education and began a professional journey marked by both talent and versatility. He first established himself as a fashion designer, then moved into the retail business of fur coats. Later, demonstrating his remarkable adaptability and drive, he transitioned once more, ultimately building a successful career in metalwork contracting.

These varied and successful ventures were not only a testament to his abilities but also enabled him to pursue what became a defining passion of his life: the collection and preservation of Judaica.

For more than three decades, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to assembling an extraordinary collection of Jewish art and artifacts. His vision was bold and deeply personal—to establish the first Jewish Art Museum in Brooklyn, a place where Jewish history, creativity, and identity could be preserved and shared with the public.

To house this growing collection, he purchased a two-story home on a quiet street in Flatbush, dedicating it entirely to his life’s work. Every inch of the home became filled with items of Jewish significance. Each room carried its own theme, though the sheer volume of pieces often overflowed from space to space. Visitors entering the home were greeted by a painting salon, its walls covered edge to edge with approximately 150 paintings, with additional works carefully stacked in rows across the floor—an immersive testament to his passion and vision.

In his later years, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to sharing not only his collection but also his life story. He spoke to students and communities, offering a powerful message of perseverance, gratitude, and appreciation for life.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Two brothers from Bnei Brak set out on a trip earlier today and have since gone missing after contact with them was lost in the early afternoon hours.

The two left their home this morning at 11:30 a.m. to travel to the area of Churvat Shiloh in the Shomron. Since the afternoon, there has been no communication with them.

Israel Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the missing boys, Yehuda Schreiber, 20, and Yisroel Schreiber, 19.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to contact the Israel Police hotline at 100.

{Matzav.com}

Questions have emerged over a reported vandalism incident at a boys’ high school in Huwara after unusual Hebrew phrasing and spelling errors in graffiti cast doubt on who may have been responsible.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, WAFA, reported that “settlers broke into a boys’ high school in the town of Huwara and sprayed hateful inscriptions on the walls.”

The account, later cited by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, said that a Palestinian flag at the school had been taken down and replaced with an Israeli flag. The incident was described as part of a pattern of vandalism allegedly carried out by Jewish residents in the area.

However, scrutiny of the graffiti itself has led to growing skepticism. Photographs from the scene show Hebrew phrases reading: “Aravi tov mavet” (a good Arab is death) and “Lamikdash banenu” (our sons are to the temple).

Observers have noted that these phrases do not match the standard slogans typically used by extremist elements. The commonly known expression is “Aravi tov hu Aravi met” (a good Arab is a dead Arab). In addition, the second phrase appears to be a mistaken version of “Lamikdash panenu” (we turn toward the Temple). Analysts suggest that the error may stem from the absence of a “P” sound in Arabic, which could explain the substitution.

Ayelet Mitsch, who previously worked as a copy editor at Haaretz, questioned the report directly in a message to the paper’s editor, writing: “What’s ‘Aravi tov mavet’? What’s ‘Lamikdash banenu’? Does it sound to you like a fact that settlers sprayed this, or does it look like a fabrication and obvious incrimination that was written by an Arabic speaker and not a native Hebrew speaker?”

Additional doubts were voiced online, where users pointed to the way certain letters were formed in the graffiti. One commenter highlighted that the Hebrew letter nun in the word “banenu” was written in a style resembling the Arabic letter lam, suggesting an error that would be unlikely for a native Hebrew writer to make.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Hundreds of families who travel abroad and go door-to-door each year… can’t go this time.

They are stuck!

In past years, many of the needy in the Zichron Moshe neighborhood in Yerushalayim travel abroad and raise the necessary funds to be able to make Yom Tov in addition to many that visit Yerushalayim for Purim and Pesach.

This year, everything has changed.

Due to the war, travel is extremely difficult. Many families are unable to leave, and those who can are unsure if they will be able to return in time for Yom Tov.

Kupas Zichron Moshe was established by Rav Aaron Nimersovsky to assist the needy families in Shchunas Zichron Moshe in Yerushalaym, including almanos, yesomim, and those that are in crisis.

Unfortunately, the numbers have been growing over the last few years, with over 800 families on the list for this year.

Click Here To Donate

Started twelve years ago, Kupas Zichron Moshe has become a respected organization that has grown past natural bounds. Run under the auspices of Rav Gamliel Rabinovich, Rav Moshe Elyashiv and Rav Yitzchok Soloveitchik, Kupas Zichron Moshe has continued to provide for the Yom tov needs for over 700 choshuve families in Zichron Moshe/Geula Yerushalayim who cannot live on their own means.

These are not families that are looking to buy luxuries. These are families that would literally not have fish and chicken on Shabbos and Yom Tov without y(our) help.

This year we are having a much harder time than usual. 700 families are relying on us and we cannot do it without your help!

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has privately urged President Donald Trump to press ahead with military action against Iran, portraying the conflict as a strategic opening to alter the balance of power in the Middle East, according to a report published by The New York Times.

Citing sources familiar with high-level discussions, the report said the Saudi leader recently communicated to American officials that the campaign should continue until Iran’s hard-line regime is brought down. He reportedly maintained that Iran represents an enduring danger to Gulf nations that cannot be neutralized without removing its current leadership.

The report indicated that Saudi Arabia’s stance does not fully align with Israel’s outlook. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sees Iran as a major threat, some observers believe Israel may consider a significantly weakened Iran—mired in internal turmoil—as an acceptable outcome. Saudi officials, however, are said to view such instability as a direct and ongoing security risk.

Saudi Arabia has publicly rejected claims that it is pushing for an extended conflict. In an official statement, the kingdom said it favors a diplomatic solution and is maintaining close coordination with Washington. It stressed that its immediate priority is protecting civilians and infrastructure from continued attacks.

At the same time, officials in both Washington and Riyadh are increasingly concerned that a drawn-out war could lead to further Iranian strikes on critical energy facilities and pull the United States into a prolonged military engagement. Iranian retaliation has already shaken oil markets and contributed to regional instability.

President Trump’s public messaging has varied, at times pointing to possible de-escalation while also leaving the door open for expanded military action. He recently said there had been “productive conversations” aimed at ending the conflict, although Iranian officials denied that any such talks were underway.

According to The New York Times report, the crown prince has also discussed the option of striking Iran’s energy infrastructure and has voiced support for broader military steps. These conversations reportedly included potential operations targeting major oil installations.

The stakes for Saudi Arabia are considerable, both economically and from a security standpoint. Iranian actions have affected key maritime corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. Even alternative export paths have come under threat.

Officials and analysts cited in the report said Saudi leaders fear that ending the war without substantially weakening Iran would leave the region exposed to further attacks. At the same time, they recognize that a prolonged conflict could damage the kingdom’s economy and hinder its long-term development plans.

In a separate report last week, Reuters said Gulf Arab countries have cautioned against any outcome that would allow Iran to retain the ability to threaten energy infrastructure. Sources told Reuters that Iran’s recent actions have underscored its capacity to strike critical facilities and disrupt shipping lanes.

Reuters also reported that the United States has been urging regional allies to publicly back the joint US-Israeli campaign, as President Trump seeks wider support for the operation. Gulf officials expressed growing concern about Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and the potential consequences for oil exports and broader economic stability.

According to those sources, Gulf leaders are balancing the risks of escalation against the dangers of leaving Iran with significant military strength. While coordination among regional countries remains limited, there is increasing focus on strengthening defensive cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

A large-scale rocket attack from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Tuesday evening, leaving one woman dead and several others wounded, as emergency and security teams responded across multiple impact sites.

A total of 38 rockets were fired toward northern communities, with several landing near the Machaneyim Junction area. A woman at the scene sustained critical injuries from the blasts and flying shrapnel, while two others were hurt lightly.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom rushed to the location and began administering urgent medical care to the critically wounded woman. Despite their efforts, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Security personnel and rescue teams continued to comb through the affected areas, checking for additional victims and assessing potential damage caused by the heavy barrage.

In a separate earlier incident, a missile launched from Iran struck in the south, seriously injuring a doctor from the Bedouin community and causing lighter injuries to his wife and two young children.

The injured man, who works at Soroka Hospital, had just returned home after an extended shift and had gone to rest when the missile struck.

Magen David Adom teams treated the injured family members at the scene before transporting them to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. Warning sirens sounded across the Negev region and areas surrounding Gaza during the attack.

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Kolvet, a host associated with The Charlie Kirk Show, said Monday that he provided private text messages from the late Charlie Kirk to then–National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, but denied any involvement in their eventual public release, which later fueled conspiracy theories.

Kolvet explained that he shared the messages with Kent shortly after Kirk’s death as part of efforts to gather information, but said he declined a subsequent request to make them public. The texts later surfaced through Candace Owens, a conspiracy theorist who has used them to advance claims about Kirk’s death.

Kent, who stepped down from his role in the Trump administration last week after issuing a letter critical of Israel and its “influence,” is reportedly under FBI investigation over allegations that he leaked classified material.

Addressing the controversy on his show, Kolvet first aired remarks from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, who accused Kent of being the source of the leak:

WOLICKI: “The way that those screenshots got to Candace is via Joe Kent. Andrew Kolvet, Andrew was in the chat group as well. He was one of the nine people in the group and he admitted — at first, be perfectly honest, at first he was denying it, we didn’t know how Candace got them — but then he admitted on the air on his show that he had given these text messages, and he gave them to-, he said that on the show that he gave them to someone in the government.

“He told us that, that he gave them to someone in government. Joe Kent was someone that we knew that there was a relationship there between Charlie, and Andrew, and Joe. We knew that when Charlie would visit Washington, D.C., he would talk to Joe. We kind of verified that the messages had been given by Andrew to Joe Kent, and that Joe Kent had been the one to pass them on to Candace.”

Kolvet responded by confirming part of the account while pushing back on the conclusions being drawn.

“All right, so ‘verified’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. I do want to confirm what I can confirm, and that is that, yes, in the immediate aftermath, I did provide the group chat to Joe Kent,” said Kolvet. “We don’t throw around accusations recklessly here, we don’t. There’s a lot people who do that online, we don’t do that. We think that’s keeping in the spirit of Charlie’s spirit, and the way we choose to do things is we try and be responsible. So, yes, in a spirit of looking at every lead, turning over every stone, we wanted everybody that needed to know, to know anything that we knew. Not just-, I mean, and by the way, we’ve been accused of not being interested in the truth-”

Kolvet’s co-host Blake Neff then clarified the broader context of the controversy for listeners:

“And just to remind people what this is referring to, this is after Charlie’s murder, there were text messages that, from a private group chat, that were made public and were used to, frankly, kick off the big conspiracy theory that we’ve run into over and over again, which is that Israel or the Jews had Charlie murdered. Which we do not believe,” interjected co-host Blake Neff to set the stage.

“Which we do not believe,” agreed Kolvet, before continuing with his account:

“But we have been accused of trying to-, or we’re not interested in the truth. The actual fact of the matter is that behind the scenes, we have given everything we know to give, every single piece of information. This was one of them. I was told I could trust Joe Kent, I provided the screengrabs to Joe Kent, and that I don’t know what happened to them at that point, okay? I just want to make that very clear.

“Eventually, Joe did message me and suggest that I make those screengrabs public. I declined because those were shared privately, I didn’t want to be reckless with them in the public, there could be innocent people on that group chat that would then be harmed. So I declined. But then, fast forward another week or two, and they were made public. So that’s what I know, is that Joe suggested that they be made public, I declined, then they were made public. Can I 100% categorically say that he leaked them? No. But those are the facts. Maybe somebody on his team, maybe they got passed around, maybe somebody else leaked them. But that’s-, those are the facts of the matter. And that’s what I know.”

The messages at the center of the controversy were shared by Owens, who has pointed to them as supposed evidence of a broader geopolitical plot behind Kirk’s killing, rather than the actions of Tyler Robinson, the defendant in the case, who claimed responsibility and said he targeted Kirk over his views on transgender issues.

Among the messages circulated publicly were statements attributed to Kirk, including: “Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker. I’m thinking of inviting Candace,” and “Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this. Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.”

Owens has continued to promote the theory that Israel may have been involved in Kirk’s death, a claim that has been widely disputed by those close to him.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli man was detained at Egypt’s Taba International Airport after putting on a tallis and tefillin, preventing him from boarding his scheduled flight. He was ultimately released and allowed to depart only after intervention by Israeli officials.

The incident comes as growing numbers of Israelis have been using Taba Airport as an alternative travel hub due to ongoing restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport. The Egyptian facility, located about a 40-minute drive from the Taba border crossing, has become a key point of entry and exit. However, Egyptian authorities have shown heightened sensitivity toward visible Jewish religious practices.

Aviel, an Israeli passenger on the same flight, described the tense atmosphere in an interview with Ynet. “I arrived at the airport early. It’s a very small terminal with no internet and almost nothing there. We were flying to Athens on a plane carrying 180 Israelis. Sitting next to me in the terminal was a chareidi man studying Gemara and gently swaying. Suddenly, an Egyptian security officer rushed over and said that praying in the terminal was forbidden. He demanded his passport immediately.”

Aviel said he stepped in to assist, explaining to the officer that the man was studying rather than praying. The explanation appeared to satisfy the officer, who then left the man alone.

Later, while passengers were waiting to board, another Israeli traveler took out a tallis and tefillin. At that point, a military officer confronted him, stating that prayer was not allowed and demanding his passport. The young man was detained and removed from the area, missing his flight.

Following intervention by Israeli authorities, the traveler was eventually released and permitted to board a later flight.

Reflecting on the incident, Aviel said, “In Egypt, you have to be extremely careful. It was genuinely frightening. They are not willing to allow anyone to pray there. People were afraid to speak up or get involved.”

{Matzav.com}