Hamas is moving toward selecting a new leader, with a decision expected in the coming days or weeks, according to a report by the Saudi outlet Asharq that cited sources close to the terror group’s senior leadership.
The report said the vote will be conducted by Hamas’s general Shura council, a body of roughly 50 members drawn from the organization’s three regional politburos: Gaza, the West Bank, and the Palestinian diaspora. Hamas traditionally holds leadership elections every four years. While the most recent vote took place in March 2021, the next round — initially planned for early 2025 — was postponed due to the war in Gaza.
According to Asharq, the two leading contenders are Khaled Mashaal, a former head of Hamas, and Khalil al-Hayya, who currently leads the group’s politburo in Gaza.
Sources cited in the report said that while leadership elections are imminent, they have “ruled out holding general elections before the war comes to a complete end.”
The same sources described a sharp contrast between the candidates’ policy outlooks, particularly regarding Israel’s presence in Gaza. Hayya, who is viewed as closely aligned with Iran, was said to favor continuing “armed conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip until the war ends and the Israeli army withdraws from the Strip entirely.” Mashaal, by contrast, is described as supporting “negotiated compromises to end the occupation of Gaza.”
Mashaal is also said to advocate “trying to move Hamas away from Iran” and “closer to the moderate Arab states,” according to the Asharq report.
Despite those differences, the sources assessed that Hayya is the frontrunner, citing his backing from senior Hamas figures in both Gaza and the West Bank, including Zaher Jabarin, the group’s West Bank politburo chief.
The leadership shakeup follows a series of assassinations that decimated Hamas’s top ranks. Ismail Haniyeh, who was elected leader in 2021, was killed by Israel in Tehran in July 2024. His successor, Yahya Sinwar, was later killed by Israeli forces in Rafah in October of the same year.
Since then, the organization has been overseen by an interim leadership council led by general Shura council head Muhammad Ismail Darwish. The provisional body also includes Hayya, Mashaal, Jabarin, and Gaza politburo member Nizar Awadallah.
Observers quoted by Asharq said Hamas’s push to proceed with elections now reflects both the current ceasefire with Israel and growing friction within the interim leadership over key questions, including “the fate of the movement’s rule in Gaza and regional alliances.”
Under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire framework, Hamas is required to relinquish control of Gaza to international forces. However, senior Hamas figures — including both Hayya and Mashaal — have said such forces should function only as a buffer between Israel and Gaza, rather than replacing Hamas’s authority outright.
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] As diplomatic talks over ending the Russia-Ukraine war unfolded at Mar-a-Lago, a brief and unscripted exchange involving food and the press drew attention before the formal discussions began.
Moments before sitting down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Donald Trump paused the proceedings on Sunday to address a reporter in the room, joking about whether offering lunch could be considered an improper inducement.
“Would you like to have food, or would you consider that a bribe?” Trump asked. “And therefore you could not write honestly, or therefore you have to write a bad story.”
The exchange took place as Trump was seated alongside senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A Fox News broadcast captured the moment as Trump, smiling, pressed the reporter further.
“Would you like something to eat at this time? Yes or no? You can speak,” Trump said.
“Yes sir,” the reporter replied.
The answer prompted visible reactions around the table. Hegseth broke into a wide grin, while Trump gestured to communications adviser Margo Martin “to take him outside and tell them to serve him a little lunch.” Cameras also caught Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, appearing amused, while White House adviser Stephen Miller looked on stone-faced as the scene played out.
As members of the press were escorted from the room, Trump continued the banter. “That should guarantee good stories, but it won’t. They’ll only get worse,” he said. Turning back toward Zelensky, seated across from him, Trump made a passing remark referencing a hamburger.
The lighthearted moment came against the backdrop of serious negotiations. Trump and Zelensky were meeting to discuss pathways toward ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters outside Mar-a-Lago earlier Sunday, Trump said there was “nothing more important” to him than bringing the conflict to a close, and he bristled at what he described as a “dumb question” regarding security guarantees.
The talks followed Zelensky’s release this week of a 20-point peace proposal that includes security assurances and a plan to transform disputed territories into a demilitarized free economic zone.
Ahead of Zelensky’s arrival, Trump also held a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump told reporters he intended to speak with Putin again after concluding his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, describing the discussions as “pretty complex, but not that complex.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
The Yerushalayim District Court has ruled that the Hamas terror organization must pay close to one billion shekels in damages to hundreds of people harmed in the October 7 massacre, issuing the decision after Hamas failed to submit a defense.
The default judgment was delivered by Eran Shila following petitions filed by hundreds of plaintiffs — including survivors of the attack and heirs of those murdered — who were represented by attorney David Simana. The court acted after Hamas did not respond to the lawsuit.
The claims were brought under Israel’s Terror Victims Compensation Law, which took effect in 2024 and authorizes punitive damages against perpetrators of terror attacks and those deemed responsible. While the ruling targets Hamas, enforcement is expected to be challenging. Separate proceedings against the Palestinian Authority are continuing; that authority did file a defense, and the present ruling does not address those pending claims.
According to the lawsuits, the plaintiffs include people wounded in the October 7, 2023 assault as well as dependents and heirs of victims who were killed. Many live in kibbutzim and communities near the Gaza border. The filings assert that all plaintiffs suffered physical and/or psychological harm as a direct result of the attack.
Under the law cited by the plaintiffs, punitive damages are set at 10 million shekels for heirs when a terror attack results in death, and 5 million shekels for victims who sustained permanent disabilities.
One survivor who was at Zikim Beach during the attack described the impact of the ruling, saying: “On October 7 we were at Zikim Beach. We arrived the day before to fish. We saw them with our own eyes. I tried to help others. Since that day I have been traumatized. Saying post-trauma minimizes the reality. I am not post. Illnesses erupted in me because of the event. The decision is very important for our rehabilitation. I want to thank the court and the law office that accompanied and continue to accompany us and are doing sacred work. It is time that the victims receive what we deserve. Hopefully we will get a new horizon. I sincerely hope we receive the money for our rehabilitation now and not in 20 years. The state must step in and ensure this.”
The mother of a young man who was murdered while returning home from the Nova music festival also reacted to the verdict. “I am in total shock from the ruling. I did not expect it. It is unprecedented. The judge sees the families and the victims. For me, this ruling is about being seen, when in our country responsibility was not taken and a state commission of inquiry was not established. It was important for us to be recognized. We raised our children here, and our son did not move to Tel Aviv but grew up here. My son knew this area as paradise. We never imagined October 7, or that our paradise would turn into hell in seconds. My son and his friends who were murdered trusted this area so much. What is happening now is closure.”
In some of the cases, plaintiffs are additionally represented by attorney Maayan Yohai of the Yohai Atzofi law firm.
Attorney David Simana welcomed the outcome, saying: “I welcome the court’s decision, which gives justice to the victims and their families. We are aware of the difficulties in collecting the compensation awarded from Hamas, but we will examine all options available to us. It is important to emphasize that this is only a partial ruling.”
He added: “I hope that in the proceedings against the Palestinian Authority, after more than 5 billion shekels have already been seized for the benefit of about 2,000 of our clients, the court will accept our arguments, recognize the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility for the events of October 7, and order it to compensate the victims. My team and I will continue to act on behalf of our clients and stand up for their rights in all the lawsuits being conducted in their name, in Israel and in the United States.”
{Matzav.com}An aggressive and unusually early flu season is sweeping across New York, pushing hospitals and emergency rooms toward levels not seen in years and raising concerns that the worst may still be ahead.
During the week ending December 20, hospitals across New York State recorded 3,666 inpatient admissions tied to influenza, a sharp rise from 2,251 hospitalizations the prior week. Health officials note that most patients requiring hospitalization have preexisting medical conditions, and there is no indication at this point that the circulating strain is inherently more severe than in previous seasons.
Emergency departments, particularly in New York City, are already under significant pressure. City hospitals logged 9,857 emergency room visits for flu-like illness during that same week, marking the highest level reported in at least a decade. Laboratory data underscores the scope of the outbreak: 32,239 confirmed flu cases were identified in the city alone, with children accounting for more than half of those infections.
Statewide figures paint an even starker picture. According to the New York State Department of Health, 71,123 positive flu cases were recorded in the week ending December 20 — the largest single-week total since flu tracking began in 2004. That figure represents a 38 percent increase from the previous week and brings the total number of reported flu cases this season to 189,312.
Health officials say the spike began weeks earlier than is typical and continues to climb as the flu season approaches its usual January peak. While expanded testing may be identifying more cases than in past years, the surge is nonetheless unprecedented in scale.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the numbers represent the highest weekly flu totals ever documented, cautioning that broader testing alone does not fully explain the dramatic rise.
Virologists report that the dominant strain circulating this season is H3N2, which contains mutations that may allow it to partially evade immune defenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early findings suggest that while this year’s flu vaccine may be less effective at preventing infection altogether, it still significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Public health experts are urging residents to get vaccinated, monitor symptoms closely, and stay home when sick, warning that case numbers could continue to increase in the coming weeks as flu activity intensifies statewide.
{Matzav.com}
Traffic on Route 4 was brought to a standstill on Sunday afternoon after demonstrators affiliated with the Peleg Yerushalmi launched a protest near Bnei Brak, as part of a renewed wave of demonstrations over the continued arrests of yeshiva students.
Within a short time of the protest’s start, the highway was fully blocked in both directions between the Aluf Sadeh Interchange and the Em HaMoshavot Interchange. Police declared the demonstration illegal, and heavy traffic congestion quickly built up throughout the area.
As a result of the protest, service on the light rail in Petach Tikva was also disrupted.
Transit officials announced that due to a demonstration near the Shenkar station, the light rail would operate on a shortened route, with Line R2 running only between Kiryat Aryeh in Petach Tikva and the Komemiyut station in Bat Yam, in both directions.
Israel Police said officers from the Dan District and the National Traffic Police were deployed to the scene, working to redirect vehicles to alternate routes.
Traffic heading south from the Em HaMoshavot Interchange was diverted toward Petach Tikva.
Earlier in the day, the Peleg Yerushalmi had announced the resumption of protests nationwide, citing anger over the continued detention of yeshiva students. Protest locations were not disclosed in advance, and police had prepared for possible road blockages and traffic disruptions.
Police emphasized that the right to protest would be upheld as long as demonstrations remain within the bounds of the law, but warned that blocking major roads, disrupting freedom of movement, or engaging in behavior that endangers public safety would not be tolerated.
During the unrest, United Hatzalah medics treated a pedestrian — a 15-year-old boy — who was lightly injured after being struck by a vehicle on Route 4 near the Givat Shmuel Interchange. Paramedics said he suffered injuries to his limbs during the protest and was treated at the scene.
{Matzav.com}
A 15-year-old student at a school in Saint Petersburg was severely assaulted by a classmate and an older student after posting a profile picture featuring the Israeli flag, according to Russian media reports. The incident has prompted Russia’s Investigative Committee to open a formal probe.
Reports indicate that the confrontation began in early December, when another student objected to the Israeli flag appearing in the boy’s online profile photo. The alleged attacker, who reportedly espoused extreme nationalist views, threatened the teenager and hurled verbal abuse at him, including remarks referencing the Holocaust.
According to a report by Ynet, the dispute escalated following a verbal exchange, after which the victim was summoned to what was described as a “conversation” with the aggressor. When he arrived, he encountered both the attacker and an older student who blocked his path. The two demanded that he kneel and apologize. When the boy refused to submit to the humiliation, he was punched repeatedly in the face.
As a result of the assault, the teenager suffered a fracture to the eye socket. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery under full anesthesia to remove bone fragments. He remained in the hospital for more than a week and is now continuing treatment on an outpatient basis.
The boy’s mother has filed a police complaint. Authorities confirmed that the Investigative Committee is examining the circumstances surrounding the attack, while regional education officials said they are also reviewing the incident.
{Matzav.com}A powerful and uplifting Shabbos experience returns this winter as the 5th Annual Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon with Rabbi Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin will take place February 6–8, Parshas Yisro, at The Westin in Princeton, New Jersey. Designed to inspire, strengthen, and illuminate, this special Shabbos offers participants the opportunity to step away from daily pressures and reconnect—both spiritually and emotionally—in a warm, elevated environment.
Set in luxury accommodations with a five-star menu, the Shabbos will feature a rich and thoughtfully curated program focused on clarity, inner strength, and living with deeper trust in Hashem. Throughout the Shabbos, participants will enjoy inspiring tefillos, spirited seudos, and a meaningful oneg, all infused with an atmosphere of warmth and purpose.
Rabbi Rubashkin will be joined by an outstanding roster of guest rabbanim and speakers, including Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, singer Rabbi Shloime Taussig, and Rabbi Getzel Rubashkin. Their divrei chizuk and guidance will address timeless and timely themes, offering insight and inspiration that resonate long after Shabbos ends.
The program has been carefully structured to meet the needs of the entire family. Alongside the main sessions, there will be special talks for women led by Rabbi Rubashkin and Mrs. Rubashkin, as well as dedicated programming for teens. Children will enjoy an exciting kids’ program, and babysitting will be available for infants, allowing parents to fully participate in the Shabbos experience.
Now in its fifth year, the Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon has become known for its unique ability to combine depth with warmth, inspiration with joy, and personal connection with communal uplift. Attendees consistently describe the Shabbos as transformative—a time of renewed perspective, strengthened faith, and meaningful connection.
Registration is now open, and space is limited. Those seeking a Shabbos of insight, inspiration, and genuine spiritual recharge are encouraged to reserve their place.
For registration or more information, CLICK HERE.
For additional information or to register, interested participants may visit bitachonshabbos.com or alephbeisgimmel.com, email shabbos@alephbeisgimmel.com, or call or text (732) 354-1496.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been the beneficiary of tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from liberal billionaire George Soros and his family members, according to a report published Sunday by the New York Post.
Campaign finance disclosures cited by the Post show that Soros and relatives have sent more than $71,000 to political efforts supporting James since 2019. Included in that sum is $31,000 earmarked for her 2026 reelection campaign.
The records indicate that George Soros himself contributed $18,000 in July 2024, while his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Soros, made a $13,000 donation two months earlier, in May.
When earlier contributions are added in, the Post reported that the Soros family has directed approximately $40,000 more to James over the past several years.
The reported figure does not include indirect political support flowing to James through organizations backed by Soros. Among them is the Working Families Party, which has received millions in funding from Soros-linked entities and continues to support James’ political career.
According to the Post, Soros’ Open Society Foundations have sent more than $865,000 to the New York arm of the Working Families Party since 2018.
James’ relationship with the Working Families Party dates back decades. She first gained statewide attention in 2003 when she won a Brooklyn City Council seat as the first candidate elected in New York under the WFP banner.
Although James ran as a Democrat during her 2018 attorney general campaign alongside then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and avoided running under the WFP label, she has remained aligned with the party’s platform and accepted its endorsement again during her successful 2022 reelection bid, the Post reported.
“George Soros has spent years financing the radical left’s most extreme projects, and the outcome is almost always the same: instability and disorder that is destroying our state,” Michael Henry, a Republican challenger seeking to defeat James in the 2026 election, told the Post.
James has drawn national attention for her aggressive legal actions against President Donald Trump, including civil fraud cases that focused on his business valuations and financial statements.
Opponents of those prosecutions have accused her office of engaging in political lawfare, arguing that the cases relied on novel legal interpretations, selective enforcement, and unusually large financial penalties intended to damage Trump’s business operations and undermine his presidential campaign rather than prosecute clear criminal conduct.
In August, Trump scored a significant victory when a New York appellate court struck down more than $500 million in fines that had previously been levied in the case.
James has also faced scrutiny related to her own conduct. In October, the Department of Justice filed mortgage fraud charges connected to a property she owns in Virginia.
That case, however, did not proceed. A judge ultimately dismissed the charges after ruling that the federal prosecutor who brought them had been improperly appointed.
{Matzav.com}
