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Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a possible candidate in the country’s presidential election next year, was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Bogota on Saturday, authorities said. His conservative Democratic Center party released a statement calling it “an unacceptable act of violence.” The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former President Alvaro Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed Uribe Turbay, 39, covered in blood being held by several people. A medical report from the Santa Fe Foundation hospital said the senator was admitted in critical condition and is undergoing a “neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedure.” “Miguel is fighting for his life,” his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, wrote on the senator’s X account, urging Colombians to pray for him. The Attorney General’s Office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator received two gunshot wounds in the attack, which wounded two others. The statement from the office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. Colombia’s government said it was offering a reward for the capture of all those responsible. “Respect life, that’s the red line,” President Gustavo Petro said in a message posted on his X account. Shortly after making the post, Petro canceled a planned trip to France “due to the seriousness of the events,” according to a presidential statement. Late Saturday night, after leading an extraordinary Security Council session, Colombia’s first leftist president promised “complete transparency” in the investigation and to find the intellectual authors of the attack. He also promised an investigation into any failures by the senator’s bodyguards. Uribe Turbay is the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of the country’s most violent periods. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of Petro’s term. The senator announced his presidential bid in March. Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana said that at the time of the attack Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and 20 other people. A minor who allegedly participated in the attack was apprehended at the scene and was being treated for a leg injury, he said. “I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts,” said Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the “United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.” and he urged President Petro “to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.” “This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government,” Rubio said. Reactions poured in from around Latin America, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric saying “there is no room or justification for violence in a democracy,” and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa saying “we condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.” Both presidents offered solidarity to the senator’s family. In Colombia, former President Uribe said “they attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.” (AP)

As decided last week, the government held a meeting on Sunday and approved the initiation of proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The cabinet also approved the proposal of Justice Minister Yariv Levin regarding a change in the procedure for dismissing Baharav-Miara. The change allows the Attorney-General to be dismissed by a special ministerial committee without the requirement to consult the selection committee that appointed her. Immediately upon approval, Levin sent a letter to the ministerial committee asking it to hold a hearing for Baharav-Miara and then issue a decision on dismissing her. The committee is comprised of representatives of the coalition parties, including its chairman, Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud), Minister Betzalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist party), Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Gila Gamliel (Likud), and Michael Malchieli (Shas). Since the UTJ party announced its intention to dissolve the Knesset, it will not have a representative on the committee. Earlier on Sunday, the Attorney General’s Office issued an angry legal opinion on the change, claiming  that “the government’s hasty decision to change the method of termination of the Attorney General’s tenure is illegal and contradicts the Supreme Court’s ruling.” She also claimed that the new procedure “politicizes” the position. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)  

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Elon Musk may have burned too many bridges to repair his standing with President Donald Trump, following a recent clash that escalated rapidly and publicly.

Vance found himself having to address Musk’s string of critical social media posts in real time while recording an episode of a podcast. Among Musk’s accusations was a claim that Trump appeared in the “Epstein files.”

Speaking on the podcast episode released yesterday, Vance condemned Musk’s comments, calling the outburst a serious miscalculation. “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold,” Vance said, with a portrait of Trump behind him. “Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.”

The fallout between Trump and Musk has grown increasingly hostile over the past week. The deteriorating relationship came to a head when Musk — who previously held the role of Department of Government Efficiency chief — publicly criticized Trump, dredging up Epstein-related allegations and even suggesting Trump should be removed from office.

Although Trump’s name has appeared in court-released documents tied to the Epstein case, no allegations of criminal conduct have ever been made against him in connection to Epstein.

Musk’s attacks seem to stem, at least in part, from his dissatisfaction with a major spending initiative endorsed by Trump. He claims the bill will significantly deepen the federal deficit. In response, Trump fired back, publicly mocking Musk’s mental state and hinting that the tech mogul’s government contracts might be in jeopardy.

A large number of Republican officials have stood behind Trump during the feud, including Vance, who made it clear where his loyalties lie. “If he and the president are in some blood feud, most importantly it’s going to be bad for the country, but I don’t think it’s going to be good for Elon either,” Vance told podcast host Theo Von.

Though Musk eventually removed the post accusing Trump of being part of the “Epstein list,” he has continued to reference the accusation indirectly in other posts.

Vance expressed disbelief that Musk would provoke such a high-stakes conflict. “I just think it’s a huge mistake for the world’s wealthiest man … to be at this war with the world’s most powerful man,” he said during the show.

{Matzav.com}

This past Shavuos night, I witnessed something that deeply disturbed me—and it wasn’t just the emergency unfolding on my block. A Hatzalah call had brought flashing lights and urgent voices into our quiet street. But as the dedicated responders worked to assist someone in distress, what stood out most was the crowd that quickly gathered. Neighbors poured out of their homes—still dressed in Yom Tov attire—watching the scene as if it were a public spectacle. Some stood and stared. Others whispered and pointed. One child even walked up to the very door of the house where the emergency was taking place, trying to get a closer look. The Hatzalah member on scene asked—not once, but countless times—for space, for privacy, for dignity. Those pleas were largely ignored. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Where were the parents? How is it that children were left to stand outside and treat someone’s pain like entertainment? How could any of us allow that? What kind of message are we sending to the next generation about kavod habriyos—about basic human respect? So I ask: Where’s the menschlichkeit in our community? Where is our sense of decency, compassion, and respect? At a moment when a fellow Yid was in crisis, we lost sight of what it means to be a true am kadosh. Hatzalah volunteers are not only first responders—they are sacred responders, dropping everything, even on Yom Tov, to save lives. The very least we can do is honor their efforts by giving them space and ensuring the people they’re helping are treated with dignity. We pride ourselves on being a community of Torah and chesed. Let’s make sure that our behavior—and our children’s behavior—reflects those ideals, both inside and outside our homes. Name withheld upon request  The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

Tonight’s Adirei Hatorah event is being held at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

The event is taking place as part of the annual campaign to raise funds to cover the kollel budget of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the event is being held, a continuation of an initiative started several years ago. This is also the fourth consecutive year that Matzav.com is providing you with a full broadcast of the event.

There’s no need for you to go anywhere else for full coverage of the event. You can watch it from beginning to end right here on Matzav.com. 

WATCH THE FULL EVENT LIVE HERE ON MATZAV.COM BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM:

{Matzav.com}

New research indicates that consuming sugar in liquid form could pose a greater health risk than once believed.

The findings come from an international study led by Brigham Young University (BYU) in partnership with institutions in Germany. Researchers examined health data from more than 500,000 individuals across various regions and discovered a strong connection between sugar-sweetened beverages—like soda and juice—and a heightened likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, sugars found in solid foods didn’t show the same correlation and were in some cases even tied to reduced diabetes risk.

Karen Della Corte, the study’s principal investigator and a professor of nutritional science at BYU, emphasized that this was the first time a study clearly established a “dose-response” link between different kinds of sugar intake and diabetes risk. “It highlights why drinking your sugar, whether from soda or juice, is more problematic for health than eating it,” said Della Corte.

The report points to metabolic differences as a likely explanation. Sugars found in sweetened drinks are rapidly absorbed and can spike blood sugar levels, leading to liver dysfunction and increased fat accumulation. This process contributes to insulin resistance—one of the key mechanisms behind Type 2 diabetes.

In contrast, naturally occurring sugars in foods like fruit, whole grains, and dairy come packaged with fiber, fats, or proteins, which help regulate how sugar is processed in the body. These components ease the impact on blood sugar and prevent the liver from becoming overloaded.

“This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,” Della Corte said. “Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.”

The peer-reviewed study has been published in the Advances in Nutrition journal.

{Matzav.com}

Cybersecurity investigators noticed a highly unusual software crash — it was affecting a small number of smartphones belonging to people who worked in government, politics, tech and journalism. The crashes, which began late last year and carried into 2025, were the tipoff to a sophisticated cyberattack that may have allowed hackers to infiltrate a phone without a single click from the user. The attackers left no clues about their identities, but investigators at the cybersecurity firm iVerify noticed that the victims all had something in common: They worked in fields of interest to China’s government and had been targeted by Chinese hackers in the past. Foreign hackers have increasingly identified smartphones, other mobile devices and the apps they use as a weak link in U.S. cyberdefenses. Groups linked to China’s military and intelligence service have targeted the smartphones of prominent Americans and burrowed deep into telecommunication networks, according to national security and tech experts. It shows how vulnerable mobile devices and apps are and the risk that security failures could expose sensitive information or leave American interests open to cyberattack, those experts say. “The world is in a mobile security crisis right now,” said Rocky Cole, a former cybersecurity expert at the National Security Agency and Google and now chief operations officer at iVerify. “No one is watching the phones.” US zeroes in on China as a threat, and Beijing levels its own accusations U.S. authorities warned in December of a sprawling Chinese hacking campaign designed to gain access to the texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. “They were able to listen in on phone calls in real time and able to read text messages,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. He is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the senior Democrat on the Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, created to study the geopolitical threat from China. Chinese hackers also sought access to phones used by Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance during the 2024 campaign. The Chinese government has denied allegations of cyberespionage, and accused the U.S. of mounting its own cyberoperations. It says America cites national security as an excuse to issue sanctions against Chinese organizations and keep Chinese technology companies from the global market. “The U.S. has long been using all kinds of despicable methods to steal other countries’ secrets,” Lin Jian, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said at a recent press conference in response to questions about a CIA push to recruit Chinese informants. U.S. intelligence officials have said China poses a significant, persistent threat to U.S. economic and political interests, and it has harnessed the tools of digital conflict: online propaganda and disinformation, artificial intelligence and cyber surveillance and espionage designed to deliver a significant advantage in any military conflict. Mobile networks are a top concern. The U.S. and many of its closest allies have banned Chinese telecom companies from their networks. Other countries, including Germany, are phasing out Chinese involvement because of security concerns. But Chinese tech firms remain a big part of the systems in many nations, giving state-controlled companies a global footprint they could exploit for cyberattacks, experts say. Chinese telecom firms still maintain some routing and cloud storage systems in the U.S. — a growing concern to lawmakers. “The American people deserve to know if Beijing is quietly using state-owned firms to infiltrate our critical infrastructure,” U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich. and chairman of […]

California Governor Gavin Newsom raised the possibility Friday of the state reconsidering its contribution of federal tax dollars, following reports that President Donald Trump is weighing deep cuts to funding programs that benefit California.

The remarks came on the heels of a CNN story claiming the administration is exploring a “full termination” of federal grants for California’s public university system — a potential move that would strike at the heart of the state’s higher education infrastructure.

In a pointed message shared on X, Newsom wrote, “Californians pay the bills for the federal government. We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back,” citing a Rockefeller Institute study showing the state paid approximately $83 billion more to the federal government in 2022 than it received in return. “Maybe it’s time to cut that off,” he added.

The idea of using tax dollars as leverage gained traction quickly. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas posted on Bluesky just before Newsom, arguing that withholding taxes may be warranted in the face of what he characterized as political retribution. “We’re the nation’s economic engine and the largest donor state, and deserve our fair share,” Rivas posted. “I’ll use every legal and constitutional tool available to defend CA — we must look at every option, including withholding federal taxes.”

A spokesperson for the White House, Kush Desai, downplayed any definitive decision but defended the administration’s critique of California’s policies. “The Trump administration is committed to ending this nightmare and restoring the California Dream,” Desai said. “No final decisions, however, on any potential future action by the Administration have been made, and any discussion suggesting otherwise should be considered pure speculation.” He went on to accuse the state of embracing “lunatic anti-energy, soft-on-crime, pro-child mutilation, and pro-sanctuary policies.”

Trump has repeatedly used the threat of withholding federal support as a political tool, including a recent episode in which he suggested slashing California’s funding if a transgender athlete were allowed to participate in a state track meet for girls.

The timing of Newsom’s proposal is notable, as he continues to voice opposition to Trump’s policies while simultaneously pursuing federal disaster funds for wildfire recovery and economic initiatives. Just weeks ago, Newsom attributed a $16 billion hole in California’s budget to Trump-era tariffs, even as he privately reached out to administration officials to discuss aid for the state’s struggling film sector.

State Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire also weighed in via X, condemning what he called “this President’s illegal and unprecedented attack on our state,” though he stopped short of endorsing the idea of withholding federal tax payments.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump clarified that he did not authorize the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who had been deported in March under contested circumstances.

“That wasn’t my decision,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News. “The Department of Justice decided to do it that way.”

Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States on Friday to stand trial on federal human trafficking charges in Tennessee, following the release of a formal indictment earlier this week. His deportation months ago, which the Trump administration later acknowledged was a mistake, was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. The court directed the government to “facilitate” his return, igniting fierce legal and political debate nationwide over the administration’s broader deportation strategy.

“It should be a very easy case” for federal prosecutors, the president told NBC News. Trump also mentioned that he had not spoken with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador regarding the matter.

Even after the Supreme Court issued its directive, Trump administration officials were reluctant to comply, citing the fact that Abrego Garcia remained under the jurisdiction of Salvadoran authorities.

“There is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told lawmakers last month.

The administration repeatedly portrayed Abrego Garcia as a dangerous gang member, a claim rejected outright by both his legal team and family members. A federal judge further dismissed the characterization as “a vague, uncorroborated allegation.”

While officials referred to his removal from the U.S. as “an administrative error,” they failed to act swiftly on the Supreme Court’s order to bring him back.

The situation triggered a wave of criticism. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) even traveled to El Salvador, where he met with Abrego Garcia and called for his return. Republicans fired back, accusing Van Hollen and other Democrats of siding with a potentially dangerous individual.

Abrego Garcia’s legal team has asked the public to approach the charges with skepticism.

“They’ll stop at nothing at all — even some of the most preposterous charges imaginable — just to avoid admitting that they made a mistake, which is what everyone knows happened,” Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of his attorneys, told reporters Friday. “He’s not going to be convicted of these crimes,” the lawyer added. “There’s no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy.”

{Matzav.com}

A congresswoman and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot secured the endorsement of the highest-ranking Hispanic official in her state. A mayor highlighted his arrest by immigration officials. A congressman campaigned at a Latino supermarket. And another mayor decided to put his self-taught Spanish to use on the trail. The New Jersey gubernatorial primary has emerged as a crucial test for Democrats seeking to regain Latino support nationally. It highlights the challenges in traditionally blue areas where the party’s loss of support among Hispanics in 2024 was even more pronounced than in battleground states. President Donald Trump slashed Democratic margins in New Jersey and New York, even flipping some heavily Latino towns he had lost by 30 and 50 percentage points in 2016. The Democratic primary for governor features an experienced field of current and former officeholders: U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association president and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. Although Trump made closing U.S. borders a central promise of his campaign, his economic message hit home with Latinos. More Hispanics saw inflation as the most important concern last fall than white voters, AP VoteCast showed. That lesson has been taken to heart in this year’s campaign, with strategists, unions, organizers and politicians pivoting away from immigration and putting pocketbook concerns at the forefront of their appeals. “At the end of the day, if you’re worried about paying your bills and being safe at night, everything else is secondary,” Rep. Gottheimer said in an interview. “I think that is front and center in the Latino community.” Warning signs for Democrats Laura Matos, a Democratic National Committee member from New Jersey and board member of Latina Civic Action, said the party is still finding its way with Hispanic voters, warning that support can’t be taken for granted even when Democrats win most of it. While there was a big rightward swing among Hispanics in Texas and Florida in 2024, it was similarly pronounced in blue states like New Jersey and New York. Here, 43% of Latino voters supported Trump, up from 28% in 2020. In New York, 36% of Latino voters supported Trump, up from 25% in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. Understanding that all Latino voters don’t think or vote alike helps. Compared to the 2020 election, Trump gained significantly with Dominican voters, where he went from 31% to 43% of support. Of the 2 million Latinos in New Jersey, more than 375,000 are Dominican, making up the second largest Hispanic group in New Jersey, after Puerto Ricans, a group where Trump also increased his support from 31% to 39%, the survey showed. But sometimes candidates overthink such targeted appeals. “The November election results in parts of New Jersey should serve as a big warning sign that Democrats need to think about how they’re communicating with some of these voters,” Matos said. Sherrill’s campaign manager acknowledged in a memo to supporters last month that “there is a real risk of a Republican winning in November.” New Jersey tilts Democratic in presidential and Senate elections, but Republicans have won the governorship in recent decades. Focusing on the economy Strategists, organizers, union leaders and some candidates agree that what they are hearing from Latinos is consistent with the concerns of other working […]

Mahmoud Bassal, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, who has issued hundreds of false statements to international media since the war began, is an active Hamas terrorist, the IDF revealed on Sunday. The IDF confirmed the information following an analysis of intelligence documents found during operations in the Gaza Strip. Bassal, who “has served as the Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson for an extended period of time, exploits his position to spread false and unverified information to international media outlets while presenting distorted data and falsely attributing war crimes to Israel,” the IDF spokesperson stated. “This information has received worldwide media exposure and has severely distorted the reality on the ground.” “The documents reveal that Bassal is a terrorist in the Hamas terror organization, and as part of his position, he is responsible for psychological warfare and propaganda.” The IDF published a document in which Bassal is included on a list of terrorists for Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.   (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)    

Russian officials said Sunday that Moscow is still awaiting official confirmation from Kyiv that a planned exchange of 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action will take place, reiterating allegations that Ukraine had postponed the swap. Russian state media quoted Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin, a representative of the Russian negotiating group, as saying that Russia delivered the first batch of 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to the exchange site at the border and is waiting for confirmation from the Ukrainian side, but that there are “signals” that the process of transferring the bodies will be postponed until next week. Russia and Ukraine each accused the other on Saturday of endangering plans to swap 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action, which was agreed upon during direct talks in Istanbul on Monday that otherwise made no progress toward ending the war. Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide who led the Russian delegation, said that Kyiv called a last-minute halt to an imminent swap. In a Telegram post on Saturday, Medinsky said that refrigerated trucks carrying more than 1,200 bodies of Ukrainian troops from Russia had already reached the agreed exchange site at the border when the news came. In response, Ukraine said Russia was playing “dirty games” and manipulating facts. According to the main Ukrainian authority dealing with such swaps, no date had been set for repatriating the bodies. In a statement on Saturday, the agency also accused Russia of submitting lists of prisoners of war for repatriation that didn’t correspond to agreements reached on Monday. It wasn’t immediately possible to reconcile the conflicting claims. In other developments, one person was killed and another seriously wounded in Russian aerial strikes on the eastern Ukrainian Kharkiv region. These strikes came after Russian attacks targeted the regional capital, also called Kharkiv, on Saturday. Regional police in Kharkiv said on Sunday that the death toll from Saturday’s attacks had increased to six people. More than two dozen others were wounded. Russia fired a total of 49 exploding drones and decoys and three missiles overnight, Ukraine’s air force said Sunday. Forty drones were shot down or electronically jammed. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said that its forces shot down 61 Ukrainian drones overnight, including near the capital. Two people were wounded when a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at a chemical plant in the Tula region. Russian authorities said early on Sunday that Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports, two international airports serving Moscow, temporarily suspended flights due to a Ukrainian drone attack. Later in the day, Domodedovo halted flights temporarily for a second time, along with Zhukovsky airport. (AP)

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Iranian state-controlled media and affiliated news organizations asserted today that Tehran had successfully acquired a massive cache of highly classified Israeli intelligence, supposedly including details about Israel’s defense systems and nuclear infrastructure. No proof was presented to substantiate these claims.

State television announced, “Iran’s intelligence apparatus has obtained a vast quantity of strategic and sensitive information and documents belonging to the Zionist regime,” emphasizing the alleged magnitude of the haul.

The announcement was echoed by Hezbollah-aligned al-Mayadeen and the semi-official Iranian outlet Tasnim, though none of the reports offered any specifics about the contents or origin of the purported documents.

Among the materials allegedly obtained, Iranian officials claim to have secured “thousands of documents related to the regime’s nuclear plans and facilities,” though no examples or files have been made public.

According to the Iranian broadcast, the material — said to include videos, photographs, and documents — was seized during a secretive mission. The trove was reportedly examined in detail after being transported securely back to Iran. The operation, they added, took place “some time ago,” but disclosure was delayed to allow time for data analysis and safe transfer.

Tasnim, which maintains close ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), linked the intelligence windfall to Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias, two Israelis apprehended in May. They are accused of spying for Iran and collecting intelligence inside Israel.

Authorities said the two were captured while surveilling the town of Kfar Ahim, home to Defense Minister Israel Katz. Officials have described the case as another escalation in Iran’s growing intelligence campaign within Israeli borders.

Mizrahi and Atias, both 24 and residents of Nesher near Haifa, were taken into custody in late April after a collaborative investigation between the Shin Bet and the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 unit, which handles national-level crimes.

According to security officials, Mizrahi was in frequent contact with Iranian intelligence figures during 2025 and engaged in several missions at their direction. In some instances, he acted together with Atias, allegedly aware that their tasks were coordinated by Tehran.

One such operation involved digging up a bag suspected to contain an explosive device and moving it to a different location under instructions from Iranian handlers.

Reports say Mizrahi had procured a new phone and used encrypted messaging software to maintain discreet communication with his Iranian contacts.

A senior security figure stated, “This case joins a series of recent incidents that point to persistent efforts by hostile terrorist and intelligence entities to recruit Israeli citizens to carry out missions intended to harm the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City earlier today eliminated Asaad Abu Sharia, the head of the Mujahideen Brigades, a smaller terror group affiliated with Hamas. The group was implicated in the October 7, 2023, abduction and killing of several hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons. In a separate operation, another senior figure from the same organization, Mahmoud Kaheel, was also killed.

The Mujahideen Brigades acknowledged that both Abu Sharia and Kaheel had been killed. Abu Sharia led the group, which, though less prominent than Hamas, played a key role in the brutal attacks. Kaheel held a high-ranking position within the organization.

“The news represents another step for us in closing the circle and the process of accepting the great loss,” the Bibas family said in response to the announcement. They added, “Shiri, Ariel and Kfir will not return, but there is some comfort in knowing that the vile murderers will not harm another family.”

Shiri Bibas and her husband, Yarden, along with their children Ariel, age four, and nine-month-old Kfir, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the day of the October 7 assault, when Hamas-led terrorists infiltrated the Gaza border, murdering 1,200 people and abducting 251 others in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil.

During a brief truce in February between Israel and Hamas, Yarden Bibas was released. Hamas subsequently returned the bodies of Ariel and Kfir, along with those of fellow hostage Oded Lifshitz and a deceased woman from Gaza who they falsely claimed was Shiri Bibas. Following objections by Israel, Hamas later returned Shiri’s actual remains.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari at the time disclosed that the two boys were murdered by their captors in November 2023. He said they were killed “in cold blood” and “with bare hands,” and that Hamas operatives tried to cover up the killings. “Yarden Bibas asked me to make sure the world knows and is horrified by the way his children were murdered,” Hagari said.

The military noted that in addition to the Bibas family, the Mujahideen Brigades were also behind the kidnapping and murder of Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, as well as Thai worker Nattapong Pinta. The bodies of Haggai and Weinstein were recovered from Gaza Wednesday night. Pinta’s body was returned to Israel today.

Haggai and Weinstein, ages 72 and 70, were an American-Israeli couple. They were killed during their morning walk near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and the IDF confirmed their deaths in December 2023.

Pinta, a 31-year-old Thai national working in agriculture in Israel, had come to the country a year and a half before the attack. He was abducted from the same kibbutz where he worked in the fields, and later killed in captivity. He had been supporting his wife and young son back in Thailand.

Palestinian media outlets reported that more than 30 people were killed in the airstrike on the Sabra neighborhood that took out Abu Sharia. The separate strike targeting Kaheel also killed members of his family, including his wife and children, according to statements from the terror group.

The IDF said Abu Sharia was among the terrorists who stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and that he played a central role in the abduction and murder of civilians, including the Bibas family. The military also accused him of orchestrating attacks within Gaza and directing terror activity from the West Bank aimed at harming Israelis.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas today released a new image of Matan Zangauker, an Israeli hostage, and claimed that Israeli forces were surrounding the location in Gaza where he is allegedly being kept. The group threatened to kill him if the army came any closer.

In a response, the Israeli military issued a statement clarifying that they had not carried out any rescue attempt for Zangauker.

The photo shows Zangauker lying on his side, partially covered by a blanket. An IV bag is visible in the background, suggesting he is receiving some form of medical treatment.

“The enemy will not be able to recover him alive. We have preserved his life for 20 months; if this prisoner is killed during an attempt to free him, the occupation army will be the one responsible for his death,” declared Hudhaifa Kahlout, the Hamas military spokesman also known as Abu Obeida.

“This is a final warning,” he warned.

This new image emerged as the Israeli military ramps up its operations throughout Gaza, coinciding with ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages.

After the photo was made public, Zangauker’s mother, Einav, who has become a leading voice in the campaign to secure a hostage deal, addressed demonstrators at a protest on Begin Road in Tel Aviv. Speaking to the crowd of around 1,000, she said, “I’m very worried about Matan’s physical and emotional state. I’m very afraid of a deterioration in his condition.”

She continued, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to act. “Our heart is broken by the knowledge that without [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s political calculations, all this would have been avoided,” she said. In a direct message to Netanyahu, she added that her son’s “blood will stain your hands” if efforts to return him are not made.

Back in May, Channel 12 News reported that Zangauker was having difficulty standing and was experiencing persistent digestive issues. The information came from Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who was held captive with him and has since been freed.

That report also noted that Zangauker had spent extended periods isolating himself in the tunnel where he’s being detained. During those times, he reportedly refrained from speaking or eating, and was observed shaking and appearing physically weakened, likely due to muscle atrophy.

Zangauker was abducted on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. Gritzewsky was released on November 30, 2023, as part of a brief truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Previously a Netanyahu supporter, Einav Zangauker has since become an outspoken critic, frequently appearing in the media and leading demonstrations in support of a deal that would end the war and free the hostages.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic effort to stabilize the financial future of Gerrer mosdos across the globe, the Gerrer Rebbe departed Eretz Yisroel shortly after midnight on Motzoei Shabbos for a high-stakes fundraising mission in the United States.

The emergency trip comes amid the ongoing political crisis and sweeping cuts to yeshivah and kollel budgets in Israel. With the looming uncertainty surrounding the draft law and the status of bnei Torah, Gerrer leaders have launched a bold campaign to raise a massive sum — enough to support all Gerrer institutions in Israel and abroad for the next two years.

The Rebbe departed from Ben Gurion Airport aboard a private jet provided by prominent philanthropists Reb Yoeli Landau of Williamsburg and his partner Reb Dovid Geffner.

The Rebbe’s journey marks the beginning of an ambitious campaign during one of the most turbulent periods for the Torah world in recent memory.

The itinerary includes personal visits to the homes of leading donors across the United States, culminating in a major fundraising dinner hosted by Mr. Shloime Werdiger, Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America.

Additionally, the Rebbe is expected to participate in the inauguration of a new building of the Gerrer cheder, Talmud Torah Imrei Emes, in Boro Park, Brooklyn.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic scene unfolded on Fifth Avenue recently when an entire section of the iconic Manhattan street was shut down to accommodate an enormous delivery to Jeff Bezos’ lavish penthouse in the NoMad neighborhood — an event captured in a now-viral TikTok video.

The footage shows a massive, shrink-wrapped piece of furniture suspended midair as a crane carefully lifted it over the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 26th Street. The area below was cordoned off with caution tape and barricades, surrounded by heavy equipment and moving trucks.

Scores of workers were seen coordinating the delivery and managing traffic, while curious onlookers gathered to watch as the colossal item ascended toward 212 Fifth Ave., a 24-story building where Bezos is said to own five adjoining units across the top four floors, together valued at $119 million.

Raffi Arslanian, who owns the luxury candle brand Thompson Ferrier and works nearby, filmed the whole operation and shared it online.

“You want to see how Jeff Bezos delivers his furniture? Let me show you,” said Arslanian, narrating from just a block away.

He then added a humorous note: “I think we all can relate to this.”

“Now back to reality, where, when we move, we get a U-Haul and we do it ourselves, or at best, we get a company to do it — but we don’t close the street,” Arslanian joked.

His clip has racked up over 970,000 views and thousands of comments, many from users speculating about the mysterious oversized item being hoisted skyward.

“It’s a hot tub,” one person guessed.

“A grand piano,” proposed another.

Some commenters were less interested in the item itself and more intrigued by the cost of such an extravagant moving job.

Relocating large objects with cranes can cost more than $20,000 per day and usually requires special permits to temporarily shut down city streets, according to industry sources.

“Amazon prime delivery, billionaire subscription,” one TikTok user commented, poking fun at the scene.

“We would all do the same if we had 100 billion dollars,” added another.

Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at $223 billion by Forbes, reportedly purchased the penthouse and surrounding units in a series of transactions between 2019 and 2021. The properties, housed in a converted office tower with views of Madison Square Park, make up one of the most exclusive residences in the city.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered Thursday night at Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo in Rishon L’Tzion for the inauguration of the world’s largest and most ornate Aron Kodesh and the dedication of a new, exceptionally small Sefer Torah.

The celebration began with the writing of the final letters of the Sefer Torah at the home of Rabbi Moshe Buchris in Rishon L’Tzion. From there, a majestic procession made its way through the streets, which came to a standstill as throngs of locals joined.

Upon arrival at the yeshiva campus, joyous dancing erupted. Leading the festivities were the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, along with the yeshiva’s roshei yeshiva and rabbanim, while thousands of talmidim danced throughout the beis medrash, singing and rejoicing as the miniature Sefer Torah was brought into the massive Aron Kodesh — the largest and most magnificent of its kind in the world.

Following the hachnasas Sefer Torah, the assembled moved to the main plaza of the yeshiva where a distinguished gathering of gedolei Yisroel joined the celebration. Among them were Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon, Rav Yitzchok Soloveitchik, Rav Shraga Steinman, Rav Shimon Galai, Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, and others. Wealthy philanthropists from across the globe were also in attendance.

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל