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Senior commanders from the Judea and Samaria District of Fire and Rescue Authority of Israel arrived Sunday evening to pay a shivah visit in Beitar Illit to the family of the late Moshe Ludmir z”l, who drowned after being swept away in the Modi’in Stream.

District Commander Tzion Shenkor, accompanied by district spokesperson Yehonadav Lifshitz and Judea Area Commander Tamir Erez, came to strengthen the family following the complex, days-long operation to locate their son.

During the visit, family members expressed profound gratitude to the firefighters and rescue units who worked in the stream around the clock for four consecutive days and nights. They told the district commander that he had surprised them by coming first. “You beat us to it,” they said. “We planned to come to you immediately after the shivah to personally thank the firefighters and everyone who helped.”

The family said they followed the massive rescue efforts closely and were deeply moved by the determination of the forces on the ground, who refused to abandon the search despite extreme weather conditions and powerful flooding. They noted that the teams persisted until Moshe was found and brought to kevurah before the onset of Shabbos.

At the center of the visit was an emotional appeal from Moshe’s father, Rav Tzvi Hersh Ludmir. From within his private grief, he sought to turn his family’s tragedy into a warning for the broader public, urging fire officials to use every tool at their disposal to raise awareness about the dangers posed by flowing water and flash floods.

“Floodwaters can look inviting, sometimes even mesmerizing, but they are a deadly trap,” the bereaved father said. “Do not go near flowing water. It is a real danger to life. I call on everyone—be careful, do not test it, and do not approach.”

Commander Shenkor assured the family that the father’s words would guide the district’s future public safety outreach. He told the family that the firefighters’ dedication stemmed from a profound Jewish and moral sense of mission, and that the entire district shares in the pain of the loss of the beloved bochur.

{Matzav.com}

A high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train Sunday in southern Spain, killing at least people 21 and injuring dozens more, the country’s transport minister said. The tail end of an evening train traveling from Malaga to Madrid with some 300 passengers went off the rails near […]

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A grave and unusual incident occurred overnight on Chazon Dovid Street in Modi’in Illit, where a chareidi young man was violently assaulted by security personnel following what was later determined to be a case of mistaken identity.

According to reports, the young man was initially suspected of being a spy, prompting intervention by agents of the Shin Bet. During the encounter, significant force was allegedly used against him despite the fact that he did not resist.

A volunteer from Magen David Adom who was present at the scene described the incident as exceptionally severe. “They beat him badly, restrained him with plastic cuffs, and forced him to lie on the ground, even though he showed no resistance. I have never seen anything like this in my life,” the volunteer said.

Approximately 15 minutes later, security forces reportedly realized that the individual was not the person they were seeking and that a serious error had been made. He was released immediately, without any charges or further action taken against him.

Following his release, visible signs of injury were apparent on his body. Family members said his abdomen was covered with red marks and bruising, which they believe clearly indicate the extent of the violence used against him.

The family stated that they view the incident with utmost severity and are considering further steps in response. They are demanding a thorough investigation into the conduct of the forces involved, a full clarification of the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the implementation of conclusions to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

{Matzav.com}

The government has formally argued that the High Court of Justice does not have the authority to compel the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught, asserting that Israeli law grants that power exclusively to the government itself. In a response filed to petitions seeking a court order […]

Three F-35i “Adir” fighter jets produced by Lockheed Martin arrived in Israel on Sunday, touching down at Nevatim Air Base.

The newly delivered aircraft are slated to enter service with the 116th Squadron and the 140th Squadron, and have already been marked with the insignia of the Israeli Air Force.

Since the war began, the “Adir” aircraft have been in constant use, carrying out a broad spectrum of missions, both defensive and offensive, across all active theaters.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the addition of these jets further strengthens the “Adir” array and enhances the overall operational effectiveness of the Israeli Air Force.

Israel also emphasized the strategic importance of its defense relationship with the United States, describing it as part of a shared commitment to reinforcing stability throughout the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left at least 18 people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed hundreds of homes, authorities said, as the South American country swelters under a heat wave. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the country’s central Biobio region and the […]

The IDF on Sunday disclosed that it carried out a covert operation in Gaza roughly a year ago to recover the body of a soldier killed and abducted during the 2014 war with Hamas, shedding new light on a long-running effort to resolve some of the country’s most painful unresolved cases from past conflicts. The […]

Far-right activist Nick Fuentes attacked President Donald Trump, declaring during a livestream that his core grievance with Trump is not authoritarianism — but the absence of it. “My problem with Trump isn’t that he’s Hitler,” Fuentes said Tuesday during his streaming show. “My problem with Trump is that he is not Hitler.” The remark marked […]

Israel’s security cabinet convened Sunday evening following an unusual statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office the previous night, which pointed to gaps with the American administration over the composition of a proposed Gaza “Peace Council” and related issues. According to a report on i24, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s public condemnation of Turkey’s inclusion in the council had been coordinated in advance with the United States.

Israeli officials played down the significance of Turkey and Qatar being included in the Peace Council as such, but voiced concern over Washington’s decision to place senior figures—at the level of Turkey’s foreign minister and a high-ranking Qatari official—within the council’s executive arm, the Gaza governing committee. In Jerusalem, officials said they were surprised by the White House announcement over the weekend regarding the two countries’ roles in the executive structure, though not by their participation in the broader body.

At the same time, reports indicated heightened tension during Sunday’s meeting of the political-security cabinet, where numerous ministers sharply criticized the establishment of a Gaza Peace Council, arguing that it constitutes an irresponsible move from a security standpoint. Several ministers said after the meeting that they left frustrated. A source familiar with the discussions said the Prime Minister’s seemingly forceful statement had been coordinated with U.S. officials, noting that it was no coincidence that the White House did not issue a response to Netanyahu’s remarks.

During the meeting, Netanyahu sought to calm ministers and outlined assurances he said he had received from U.S. President Donald Trump. Netanyahu told ministers that Trump shares Israel’s view that Gaza must undergo complete demilitarization prior to any reconstruction effort. He said this would include not only weapons, but also tunnels, machinery, and Hamas’ military production capabilities. Netanyahu added that the American president had set a clear deadline for Hamas to meet these demands and that, should the terror group fail to do so, Israel would receive a “green light” to act.

Despite these assurances, ministers continued to voice criticism of the initiative, arguing that it poses unnecessary risks and that the government has not been presented with a full picture of the potential consequences on the ground.

{Matzav.com}

The mayor of Minneapolis said Sunday that sending active duty soldiers into Minnesota to help with an immigration crackdown is a ridiculous and unconstitutional idea as he urged protesters to remain peaceful so the president won’t see a need to send in the U.S. military. Daily protests have been ongoing throughout January since the Department […]

MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism visited a military detention facility on Sunday where yeshiva students who declined to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces are being held, offering words of encouragement while sharply criticizing the policy that led to their imprisonment.

Speaking after the visit, Porush described his encounter with the detainees, saying, “I met several young men who are imprisoned for the ‘offense’ of studying Torah. I found them determined; they believe in the importance of sitting and studying Torah. Of course, it’s not comfortable for them,” he said.

Porush said the situation was emotionally wrenching and explained that, despite his limited availability, he is working on the issue through official channels. “It breaks the heart to see this situation. We should try to come here more often, but I am also busy with discussions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and I shared with them what is happening in those discussions. We pray that Hakadosh Boruch Hu, will help us and deliver us from this trouble,” he said.

He went on to assail those responsible for the current policy, calling the circumstances intolerable. “This situation is truly unbearable. We are required to strengthen them. They are sitting in prison in a state governed by Jews because they are studying Torah. This is an absurdity that neither my father nor my grandfather ever imagined we would reach here in the Land of Israel,” Porush said.

The visit took place against the backdrop of heightened public debate over the draft law and the ongoing dispute surrounding the enlistment of yeshiva students into military service.

{Matzav.com}

The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade. The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF boiled over earlier this month, eventually resulting in a major push by government forces […]

and heavy financial penalties for stealing from the scene of the Nova Music Festival massacre.

Both men were convicted based on their own admissions of aggravated theft, after entering the festival grounds and taking personal belongings left behind by victims of the attack.

According to the revised indictment submitted by prosecutor Adar Bachar of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, the two arrived at the site on October 8, 2023—just one day after the terror assault in which at least 347 civilians and 17 police officers were murdered at the festival location—and proceeded to loot items belonging to those who had been killed.

Arguing for strict punishment, Bachar emphasized the extraordinary gravity of the case, stating: “The circumstances of this case are unique and severe, and the actions of the defendants, who, one day after the worst disaster in the country’s history, got together and stole property belonging to the victims of the Nova Festival, must be condemned. The defendants took advantage of the situation in the country at the time to carry out their plan.”

In his ruling, Judge Amir Doron described the national trauma surrounding the events, writing: “The morning after October 7th, 2023, was one of the most difficult days in the country’s history. The country experienced a planned spree of murder and destruction, which caused substantial damage to life and property, which was reflected in the various strata of Israeli society in general, and the victims of the massacre and their families in particular.”

Judge Doron went on to deliver a scathing moral assessment of the defendants’ conduct. “The defendants failed in a disgraceful and particularly severe manner on the moral and ethical level. Through their actions, carried out together with one another, the defendants demonstrated a blatant trampling of every component of basic human compassion. The defendants stole equipment from the victims of the massacre, while the blood of those victims cried out from the ground before them. Driven by greed, the defendants chose to steal whatever they could lay their hands on, with particular emphasis on property of significant economic value.”

He added that such behavior strikes at the core of society itself. “Stealing from the scene of a massacre is not only an injustice toward the victims; it is considered a ‘stain on our camp,’ eroding social trust and the sense of solidarity,” he wrote.

At the end of the case, the court imposed identical sentences on both defendants: 38 months in prison, a suspended term, and a fine of 45,000 shekels each.

{Matzav.com}

Three new F-35I fighter jets arrived in Israel on Sunday, increasing the Israeli Air Force’s fleet of fifth-generation stealth aircraft to 48. According to the IDF, the jets flew from the United States to Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel. The aircraft will be assigned to the Israeli Air Force’s 116th and 140th squadrons. The newly […]

The U.S. military was prepared last week to carry out strikes against Iran and was awaiting authorization from U.S. President Donald Trump, but the order was ultimately never given amid pressure from Israel and key Arab allies, according to a report by Axios. The report cites four U.S. officials, two Israeli officials, and two additional […]

Rav Yaakov Jan, the rov of Uman, issued a rare public warning on Sunday calling on Jews in Israel and abroad to avoid traveling to Uman in light of unusually severe winter weather that has made conditions in the area unsafe.

While underscoring the spiritual value of visiting the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, Rav Jan said the current situation warrants delaying any trips until circumstances improve, citing heightened dangers both on regional roads and within the city itself.

He explained that temperatures have plunged to extreme sub-zero levels not experienced in years, alongside extended power failures, darkened and icy streets, and dangerously cold conditions inside homes—factors that collectively pose serious risks to visitors and local residents.

Rav Jan further cautioned those already in Uman to avoid using gas heaters indoors, emphasizing the particular hazards they present during outages. He pointed to a tragic incident late last week in which a 28-year-old man was found dead in his home, with carbon monoxide poisoning suspected, and urged the public to act responsibly and minimize exposure to danger.

The rov added that anyone who nevertheless decides to travel to Uman during this period should make certain they carry valid, comprehensive medical insurance before doing so.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI has captured a Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive, Alejandro “Alex” Rosales Castillo, in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, on January 16. He had been on the run for nearly a decade after being added to the list in 2017 for the 2016 murder of his former coworker.

Iranian diplomat reportedly seeks asylum in Switzerland Iran International reports that a senior Iranian diplomat stationed in Geneva has left his post and requested asylum in Switzerland. The diplomat, Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, served as a senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva and reportedly sought asylum together with his family. […]

U.S. expands air-defense presence in Israel The United States has expanded its air-defense deployments in Israel, adding to systems already in place amid heightened regional tensions. The presence includes THAAD missile-defense systems, designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude, as well as additional U.S. air-defense assets, including Patriot systems. The deployment is described as […]