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European intelligence agencies, working closely with the Mossad, spent months piecing together a covert web that Hamas had been quietly stitching across multiple countries. Their joint work revealed a broad effort to organize attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets on European soil.

Part of the operation unfolded in Germany, Austria, and additional European states, where coordinated counterterrorism raids exposed hidden stockpiles of weapons and led to the capture of individuals involved in building the network.

One of the breakthrough moments occurred in Vienna in September, when Austria’s DSN security service located a concealed trove of firearms and explosives. Investigators discovered that the stash was tied to Muhammad Naim, whose father, Bassem Naim, is a senior figure in Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza and an associate of Khalil al-Hayya. The findings also pointed to a meeting between the two senior Hamas officials in Qatar around the same time, raising the likelihood that high-ranking Hamas leadership was directly supporting terror operations in Europe.

The broader inquiry has also zeroed in on Hamas activity in Turkey, a location that has long served as a comfortable operational environment for the group. In November, German authorities apprehended Barhan al-Khatib, described as a central operative in the network, after he traveled back to Turkey, apparently following the conclusion of his assignments in Europe.

European officials have intensified actions against Hamas in other spheres as well. Governments have begun shutting down organizations, cultural centers, and religious institutions that were being used as fronts for recruiting and fundraising. These efforts accompany the security operations and signal Europe’s acknowledgment of Hamas’s attempt to expand its footprint across the continent following the attacks of October 7.

“The Mossad continues to cooperate with intelligence services around the world and to thwart dozens of attack plots directed against Israelis, Jews, and civilian targets. These efforts continue as part of its responsibility to counter terror in the international arena and to safeguard the security of the State of Israel and its citizens,” the agency said in its statement.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian scientists quietly traveled to Russia last year to pursue nuclear weapons-related technology, according to documents obtained by The Financial Times, raising new questions about Tehran’s covert efforts and adding weight to Israel’s justification for its June 2025 offensive. The report details a clandestine trip made by Iranian researchers from November 7–11, 2024, who met […]

LAKEWOOD: An MVA involving a bus on Route 9 and Spruce, right outside the hospital, has resulted in multiple injuries. Emergency personnel are at the scene. Avoid the area.

Israeli officials revealed Wednesday night that a focused military strike in Gaza zeroed in on two high-ranking Hamas operatives, the commander overseeing the Zeitoun Battalion and the official directing the terror group’s naval wing. The action, described as the result of tightly held, high-quality intelligence, was intended to neutralize both men, and the source indicated that Israel assesses the operation to have successfully eliminated its targets.

The strike followed an earlier flare-up in the south, when gunmen in the Khan Yunis area fired at IDF units operating nearby. The exchange did not result in any injuries, but the incident immediately drew a sharp response from the military.

“This constitutes a violation of the ceasefire,” the IDF stated. “IDF forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to act to eliminate any immediate threat. The IDF will continue to operate with force to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”

The army emphasized that its posture in the sector remains vigilant, and that any hostile fire will be met with decisive action.

{Matzav.com}

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is the first governor in the United States to designate two Muslim groups as Foreign Terrorist and Transnational Criminal Organizations. On Tuesday, he made the designations by proclamation citing multiple Texas laws. He designated the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as FTOs, authorizing heightened enforcement against both organizations […]

For the first time, on December 10, Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, N.J., will host a gathering of business leaders, government officials, T.V. personalities, and other media at the JBiz Expo & Business Conference, that will explore the issues shaping tomorrow, such as AI, banking, energy, global trade, media integrity, innovation, and economic stability.  International […]

FUTURISTIC SIDEWALK SHEDS: New York City unveiled six new, modern sidewalk-shed designs created by Arup and PAU to replace the old green scaffolding. The updated structures are meant to look sleeker, feel less intrusive, and improve the overall street experience. The city plans to start rolling them out next year. Officials say the move comes […]

SWEDISH DEPUTY PM: Sweden needs to pick its friends wisely, and we are choosing Canada… So when we come to America, we come to Canada now.

With a profoundly heavy heart, Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of Elchonon Fasten z”l, a 19-year-old bochur from Lakewood, NJ, who was niftar early this morning following a devastating crash and subsequent vehicle fire on the Garden State Parkway in Old Bridge, NJ.

The tragic incident occurred near Exit 120 as Elchonon was traveling from Boro Park back to Lakewood.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but the injuries were unfortunately unsurvivable.

In the aftermath of the accident, askaním worked tirelessly, maintaining constant communication with state and local authorities to ensure kavod hameis was upheld in every respect.

Those who knew Elchonon describe a lichtiger bochur whose very presence brightened a room. He carried himself with a quiet sweetness, a gentle temimus, and a sincerity that endeared him to everyone he encountered. Whether in the beis medrash, at home, or among friends, there was a purity to his demeanor, a natural goodness that needed no announcement.

Elchonon was well-liked by classmates and rebbi’im alike, known for his thoughtfulness, his easy smile, and the genuine respect he showed to others. Friends speak of his reliability, his warmth, and the way he made everyone feel valued. His middos tovos were not loud or dramatic; they were steady, consistent, and real.

In learning, too, Elchonon applied himself with quiet determination. He cherished the sweetness of the beis medrash, appreciating every moment he could spend immersed in Torah. His sedarim were important to him, and he approached his learning with the same sincerity that marked every part of his life.

At home, he was a source of pride and nachas, a chiyus, a warm presence, and a beloved son and brother whose caring nature touched those closest to him. His family and friends recall a young bochur with a refined heart, a calm spirit, and a deep appreciation for the people around him.

Levaya details will be released as soon as they are finalized. Kevurah is expected to take place in Monsey.

Elchonon leaves behind his grieving parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and chaveirim, along with a community shaken by the sudden loss.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Construction sites across Charlotte look more like ghost towns amid ongoing immigration operation.

A new study from Johns Hopkins University suggests that smoking as few as 100 cigarettes over an entire lifetime may be enough to significantly raise the risk of heart disease and premature death. Researchers tracked more than 300,000 adults for nearly two decades and found that men and women who smoked as little as two […]

Saudi authorities on Wednesday permitted Saad Almadi, a US citizen from Florida, to finally leave the kingdom and return to American soil — marking the end of a four-year ordeal that began when he was jailed over a series of restrained social-media posts critical of Riyadh.

News of his release broke just as President Trump delivered remarks highlighting the strength of the American–Saudi partnership during a packed schedule of events in Washington with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who serves as both prime minister and the kingdom’s dominant decision-maker.

The Almadi family shared their relief immediately, issuing a heartfelt message saying, “Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States!”

In their statement, the family made clear whom they believe deserves credit for the breakthrough. “This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the tireless efforts of his administration. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Sebastian Gorka and the team at the National Security Council, as well as everyone at the State Department.”

The message — drafted by Almadi’s son and leading advocate, Ibrahim Almadi — also expressed appreciation for The Post’s “courageous” reporting that kept the case in the public eye, and acknowledged the backing of several advocacy groups and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), all of whom worked to advance the elder Almadi’s release.

{Matzav.com}

Gedolei and tzaddikei hador gathered to celebrate the wedding of the son of HaGaon HaRav Yechezkel Esrog Shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollelim of Migdol Oz. The joyous occasion marked the vibrant Torah empire of Migdol Oz, which includes hundreds of outstanding avreichim across multiple kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel, as well as the large Migdol […]

At the Siyum on Seder Nezikin taking place tonight in Yerushalyim. Hagaon HaRav Dovid Cohen R”Y Chevron came out for the Kovod Hatorah of R’ Sruly Bornstein and the entire DBS Chabura celebrating the Siyum.

TRUMP: “We were like a bunch of stupid people. We had a president that couldn’t get up and talk, couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs, we had people that didn’t know what the hell they were doing.”

LANDLORD LOAN COLLAPSE: Steven Croman, long known as the “Bernie Madoff of landlords,” has defaulted on nearly $170 million in loans tied to about 35 Manhattan buildings, according to new lawsuits. Flagstar Bank, which holds the loans, cites major defaults including $12.4M on a Kips Bay property and $21.4M on West Village buildings. Court records […]

Elchonon Fasten z”l, a 19-year-old bochur from Lakewood, was tragically niftar following a crash and vehicle fire on the Garden State Parkway in Old Bridge, NJ, early Wednesday morning. The crash occurred near Exit 120 as Elchonon z”l was driving from Boro Park to Lakewood. Askanim were in contact with state and local authorities to […]

China is replacing its diesel trucks with electric models faster than expected, potentially reshaping global fuel demand and the future of heavy transport. In 2020, nearly all new trucks in China ran on diesel. By the first half of 2025, battery-powered trucks accounted for 22% of new heavy truck sales, up from 9.2% in the […]

A sweeping financial crisis is closing in on Steven Croman, the landlord long branded “the Bernie Madoff of landlords,” as newly filed cases reveal he has stopped paying nearly $170 million in debts and is now staring down foreclosure on dozens of Manhattan buildings, the NY Post reports.

The notorious real estate operator — infamous for his Rikers Island jail term and his long trail of legal troubles — is now caught in a fresh storm, this time in civil court, where a fast-growing stack of lawsuits claims he stopped paying an enormous slate of loans.

According to filings in Manhattan Supreme Court, Croman has allegedly fallen behind on a staggering $168 million in property loans, a sum spread across about 35 buildings scattered throughout the city.

Flagstar Bank, which inherited Croman’s mortgages after acquiring New York Community Bank in 2022, says the landlord has gone months without making required payments on multiple assets. In several cases, the bank claims the arrears have ballooned into the millions.

Before this latest mess, Croman already had a reputation for aggressive and dishonest tactics. Prosecutors noted that he controlled a vast portfolio of 140 buildings when he was charged in 2016 with submitting falsified documents to secure tens of millions in illegal loans.

It was then–Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who famously labeled him “the Bernie Madoff of landlords,” alleging that Croman even relied on an ex-NYPD officer to intimidate tenants into vacating their apartments so rents could be hiked for unsuspecting newcomers.

Croman admitted guilt in a mortgage fraud case the following year and ultimately spent a year incarcerated on Rikers Island.

Only last week, Crain’s revealed that Flagstar had taken him to court over what was then described as $71.5 million in unpaid loans attached to five buildings.

But the situation has deteriorated sharply since then. Court records now show approximately $100 million more in alleged defaults, bringing the total to about $168 million across 20 separate foreclosure suits filed in recent weeks.

Among the properties in trouble is 209 E. 25th St., a Kips Bay building with 44 apartments where rent can approach $5,500 a month. On that loan alone — $12.4 million — the bank says Croman is two months behind, owing $493,845, much of it late fees and penalties.

Flagstar is also seeking repayment of the full $10.37 million loan attached to 346 E. 18th St. in Gramercy Park, where units fetch between $7,500 and $10,000 monthly. Records say the October payment wasn’t made, leaving him owing $362,332 with fees.

The biggest chunk of the alleged defaults involves two buildings on Christopher Street in the West Village, where the outstanding debt totals $21.4 million. In that case, filings say payments stopped in August, leaving $1.2 million overdue by the end of October.

Crain’s also noted earlier this year that Croman was already fighting several other foreclosure efforts, representing another $45.5 million in alleged unpaid loans.

Attorneys for Croman and for Flagstar — which is pursuing these actions through an LLC known as Orange Owner — did not return requests for comment.

{Matzav.com}