President Donald Trump on Thursday downplayed concerns that Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha would undermine efforts to reach a hostage release deal.
Asked by a reporter how the attack might impact negotiations, Trump responded, “Hopefully it won’t affect it at all. We want the hostages out and we want them out soon.”
Qatar has served as a central mediator between Israel and Hamas in the talks over both a ceasefire and the release of hostages. But on Tuesday, the Qatari government announced it was suspending its mediation role immediately after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in Doha.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani issued a fierce condemnation of what he called the “treacherous Israeli attack” on the capital. He insisted that Qatar “reserves the right” to retaliate and warned, “We will not be lenient on our sovereignty and will deal firmly with any security breach.”
At the same time, Al Thani suggested that Qatar’s position as mediator had not been completely abandoned. While castigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the strike and declaring that Qatar was “reassessing everything” about its role in the process, he emphasized that Doha would not withdraw from its broader diplomatic efforts, saying Qatar would not be deterred from its mediation responsibilities.
The conflicting signals highlight the uncertainty now surrounding negotiations that had already been moving slowly. Israel insists that the offensive in Doha was aimed at Hamas’s senior leadership, while critics fear it has jeopardized fragile progress toward securing the release of the hostages still held in Gaza.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump arrived in New York on Thursday, making his way to Yankee Stadium where fans greeted him enthusiastically, chanting “USA! USA!” as he appeared ahead of the team’s 9/11 anniversary matchup.
Before walking onto the field to meet the crowd, Trump stopped in the Yankees’ clubhouse. There he praised the Steinbrenner family, calling them “a great family,” and spent time with players and staff.
“It’s a great family. [Team president] Randy [Levine] is wonderful, and I will say, you’re gonna win. George used to for some reason, I don’t know what it was, we won every time I came. Every time I came, we’d win a game. If you think that was easy, sitting with him for a game, it wasn’t. It was brutal. We were exhausted at the end. But we won, and you’re going to win. You’re gonna go all the way. Can you get in the playoff? I think. How about tonight, we start tonight, and you’re gonna do well.
“Randy was telling me the Boston Red Sox came to the Oval Office. They wanted to come. What am I gonna do? Say no? And they won 15 games in a row. I just want to wish you guys a lot of luck. You’re great players. I know every one of you.”
The reception in the stadium was warm, with fans erupting into chants of “USA!” soon after his arrival.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his own anticipation about the visit. He described the moment as meaningful and said he was glad to take part. “Had the honor and fortune of some presidents over the years, first pitches or whatever it may be,” Boone said. “So the fact that he’s gonna be here, I’m excited to be a part of. I don’t know what it’ll be like, but to interact with him for a few minutes, something I’m looking forward to.”
Fox News reported that before Trump entered the stadium, the scoreboard replayed highlights from the 2001 World Series, which saw the Yankees face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although the Diamondbacks ultimately clinched the championship in Game 7, the Yankees’ victories in Games 4 and 5 became iconic, both ending in walk-off wins less than two months after the September 11th attacks.
Earlier in the day, the Yankees hosted a memorial ceremony marking 9/11. Manager Aaron Boone, alongside pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, placed a wreath at the 9/11 monument located in Monument Park, a historic part of Yankee Stadium.
{Matzav.com}
A fresh Quinnipiac University survey shows Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani opening up a decisive advantage in the four-way contest for New York City mayor. He is now ahead by 22 points, despite widespread opposition from Jewish voters, three-quarters of whom disapprove of him because of his outspoken anti-Israel record.
According to the poll, which questioned likely voters across the city, Mamdani currently secures 45% support. Trailing him is Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York running as an independent, who stands at 23%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa receives 15%, while incumbent mayor Eric Adams, also on the ballot as an independent, posts 12%.
Although Mamdani has built a large coalition of backers, the Jewish community is not among them. Among Jewish voters, Adams comes out on top with 42%, more than double Mamdani’s 21%. Cuomo captures 20% in this demographic. Jewish voters also give Adams a favorable rating for his work in office, with 58% approving compared to 40% disapproving—an assessment that contrasts sharply with his overall numbers citywide, where 66% of voters view him negatively against just 28% who approve.
Mamdani’s controversial stance on Israel has been at the center of criticism. He has refused to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada” and issued condemnations of Israel on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attacks in southern Israel, fueling anger among Jewish voters and others.
Recent reports have indicated that President Donald Trump, in an attempt to strengthen Cuomo’s candidacy, offered Adams a role in the administration.
Just last week, Adams rejected rumors that he might drop out of the race, affirming instead that he intends to seek re-election.
{Matzav.com}
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, is scheduled to arrive in New York and Washington on Friday, where he will meet with American officials, Politico reported Thursday, citing an individual briefed on his travel plans.
The discussions are expected to center on the recent Israeli strike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas figures, as well as the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the report.
Politico noted that Al Thani is slated to meet with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff during his visit.
A person with knowledge of the administration’s national security strategy said Rubio has also spoken directly with Al Thani in recent days about advancing an expanded defense cooperation framework between the United States and Qatar.
On Tuesday, Trump addressed reporters about the Israeli operation in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders. “I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” he said.
He continued, “But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump had criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice to authorize the strike on Hamas leaders inside Qatar, referring to the action as “not wise.”
According to the paper, Trump’s remarks came during a tense phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday, shortly after the attack took place.
Senior administration sources told the Journal that Netanyahu defended the decision, explaining that he had a very limited window of opportunity and had to move quickly. The prime minister reportedly highlighted the necessity of acting at that precise moment.
Later that day, the Journal added, a second conversation between Trump and Netanyahu struck a friendlier tone. During that call, Trump inquired whether the strike had achieved the intended results.
{Matzav.com}
WATCH:
LISTEN:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1593-Tocheles-Part-113-Only-Him.mp3For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.
Rav Dovid Leibel has issued a sharply worded letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, urging her to halt the arrests of yeshiva students classified as army deserters. In his letter, he argued that such detentions only deepen mistrust and radicalization within the chareidi community, rather than contributing to a viable solution.
“The arrest of yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession not only fails to advance the necessary resolution but actually leads to further extremism and magnifies the existing suspicion,” Rav Leibel wrote. He demanded that the attorney general immediately put an end to the practice of arresting yeshiva students — including those not fully engaged in learning — emphasizing that this approach exacerbates tensions between the Torah world and state institutions.
Rav Leibel, who was instrumental in founding the new chareidi division known as HaChashmonaim, has been deeply involved in discussions over the draft since the outbreak of the war. While he has consistently rejected IDF enlistment for chareidim unless their lifestyle is fully protected by army regulations, he has also stressed the need for practical frameworks that balance Torah study with national responsibility.
In his letter, he called the arrests “damaging and harmful,” and instead pressed for measures that would build confidence between the chareidi community and the army. Among the steps he proposed were enshrining guarantees for preserving a strictly chareidi way of life in IDF orders and establishing a rabbinic oversight committee under the Ministry of Defense to ensure compliance.
“The time has come to restore trust,” he wrote. “Promises in the past were not kept, and this led to disappointment and mistrust. Arresting yeshiva students only worsens the crisis. With goodwill, solutions can be found that will meet legal requirements while preventing unnecessary damage.”
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the Manpower Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Shay Taib, head of the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate.
So far, the Attorney General has not responded to Rav Leibel’s letter.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota lashed out in an interview about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, mocking the idea that he was simply seeking polite political dialogue.
“There are a lot of people who are talking about him [Kirk] just wanting to have a civil debate,” Omar sneered to progressive outlet Zeteo. “These people are full of [garbage] and it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness.”
She accused the Turning Point USA leader of minimizing George Floyd’s death and opposing Juneteenth, further dismissing any notion that his record had been misrepresented.
“There is nothing more [messed] up than to pretend that his words and actions haven’t been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so,” she said, alleging that Kirk’s social media presence was filled with “hateful rhetoric.”
Omar was not alone among Democrats in showing little sympathy for Kirk’s murder. Just hours after he was gunned down at Utah Valley University, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker turned his ire on President Trump.
“Political violence unfortunately has been ratcheting up in this country,” Pritzker told reporters, pointing to the recent killing of Minnesota’s Democratic House speaker.
“I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country — I think the president’s rhetoric often foments it,” Pritzker went on.
“We’ve seen the January 6th rioters who clearly have tripped a new era of political violence,” he added, ignoring the two failed assassination attempts against Trump himself.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also weighed in, faulting extreme speech from all political corners.
“Political violence is never the answer. It divides us. But also, I’ve got to say, political rhetoric, too, from both sides, often gets out of hand and it incites people to do things like this,” Kelly said during a CNN appearance.
He appealed to Americans to “think about … our words and the consequences of them, you know, from both sides of the political spectrum.”
Others took the opportunity to openly revel in Kirk’s death. Michael Kilbane, president of the Fairview Park, Ohio City Council, wrote a cruel Facebook post: “A lot of good people died today. Charlie Kirk wasn’t one of them.”
Even members of law enforcement joined in. Secret Service agent Anthony Pough used Facebook to mock those grieving.
“If you are Mourning this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show,” Pough wrote, as reported by RealClearPolitics.
“At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave,” he added.
The Secret Service issued a response to The NY Post, stressing that the agency “will not tolerate any behavior which violates our code of conduct.”
“We are aware of the employee’s social media post from today and the individual has been placed on administrative leave as we investigate the matter,” a spokesperson confirmed.
The fallout extended beyond the agency. A Marine recruiter lost his position after uploading an Instagram image of Kirk with the caption: “Another racist man popped.”
“The Marine in question has been relieved of his recruiting duties, and the matter is currently under investigation,” Capt. Austin Gallegos told Task & Purpose.
Meanwhile, a Toledo Fire Department battalion chief used Facebook to celebrate the killing, writing that the shooting was “totally preventable and avoidable if not for the policies and beliefs of people like” Kirk and “his uneducated hateful ilk.”
“Wish the guy was a better shot,” the post continued. “Charlie Kirk offers nothing but hate and division to society.”
“No one would miss him and discourse would be better without him.” The fire department is said to be reviewing the disturbing message.
The backlash even reached the classroom. AnneMarie Donahue, a teacher at Wachusett Regional High School in Massachusetts, was placed on leave after Libs of TikTok highlighted an Instagram post where she wrote: “We’re NOT offering sympathy.”
Her post came just minutes after Kirk was struck by the sniper’s bullet.
In Florida, Lee County School District Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas vowed accountability.
He announced plans to investigate “every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior” after FOX 4 reported on a district employee who wrote: “What’s that about the cost of the second amendment being ‘some gun deaths every year,’ Bye Charlie.”
{Matzav.com}
Images and video clips of the man authorities are seeking in the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk have been made public as investigators continue their pursuit for the second consecutive day.
On Thursday morning, the FBI distributed several pictures of a “college-aged” suspect they believe may be linked to the attack.
“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI posted on X. The photos show a thin man covered in dark clothing from head to toe.
The suspect is shown with wraparound sunglasses, a dark cap, and a long-sleeved shirt that appears to feature an American flag.
TMZ reported that the same individual was caught on security cameras heading toward the Utah Valley University campus on the morning Kirk’s event was scheduled to begin.
Later that night, the Utah Department of Public Safety released four more images that provided a closer look. Although his gray hat partially conceals his face, the shirt displays both an eagle and an American flag, his gray Converse shoes are visible, and one shot shows his black backpack.
The low-quality footage reveals a tall, slim man entirely dressed in black, limping along a neighborhood street with a backpack just before noon as he made his way toward the university.
Officials suspect that he might have been hiding the bolt-action rifle later discovered by police not far from the crime scene.
Authorities further suggested that because of his attire, the man could have blended in with the fleeing crowd in the immediate aftermath of the gunfire.
Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit details online.
Kirk, age 31, was struck by a single sniper’s bullet fired from the Losee Center building on campus, roughly 200 yards away from where he was addressing the audience at the opening stop of his American Comeback tour.
Two people who were initially detained in the wake of the incident were later cleared of involvement. One faces an obstruction charge, while the other was questioned by federal investigators and released.
Investigators recovered a .30-06 Mauser bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in wooded terrain near Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the weapon is believed to have been used in the crime.
Preliminary accounts indicated that the rifle’s ammunition carried markings referencing “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” However, a Justice Department official told The NY Post that the agency has not yet confirmed whether those inscriptions matched what was recovered at the site.
{Matzav.com}Two days after Israel carried out its strike targeting senior Hamas figures in the heart of Qatar, Israeli defense officials are increasingly concerned that the mission did not meet its objectives. According to a Thursday report on Channel 12, assessments within the defense establishment now lean toward classifying the operation as a failure.
A senior Israeli source acknowledged that while there may have been limited success in eliminating a handful of senior operatives, the primary target was not achieved. “We are continuing to wait for the final intelligence picture and are hoping that perhaps some of the senior officials were killed,” the source said, adding, “as the hours go by, it seems that most of the operation’s goals were not accomplished.”
Updated assessments indicate that Hamas leaders were indeed inside the structure struck by the Israeli Air Force. However, reports suggest that either the munitions used were ill-suited for the designated target, or that the Hamas leaders managed to flee to another room at the moment of impact.
Channel 13 further reported that many Israeli security officials argued against the timing of the strike, describing it as “the most inconvenient moment imaginable.” They had urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone action in light of discussions surrounding President Trump’s proposed framework for a potential deal, stressing that “it would be better to give negotiations a chance.”
A senior Israeli official criticized Netanyahu directly: “The prime minister chose not to accept the position of 90% of the professional bodies who made clear the consequences—among them the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the National Security Council, and the head of the Mossad.”
Kan News reported that in a cabinet meeting ahead of the strike, Mossad Director Dedi Barnea warned against targeting Hamas leaders during active negotiations. “When there are talks taking place, you don’t eliminate the people you are dealing with,” he cautioned.
Looking ahead, Netanyahu is expected to convene the security cabinet tomorrow to discuss the continuation of Israel’s campaign in Gaza and assess the broader implications of the strike in Qatar.
{Matzav.com Israel}
