Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump sat down for dinner in New York on Friday with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, just days after Israel carried out an attack in Doha targeting Hamas leaders.

The Israeli operation on Tuesday aimed to eliminate top Hamas figures in Qatar, an action that threatened to derail American efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring an end to the nearly two-year war. The strike drew harsh criticism throughout the Middle East and internationally, with many warning it could fuel further instability in an already volatile region.

Reports said Trump voiced frustration over the strike both in private and public conversations, including a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also tried to reassure the Qatari leadership that such incidents would not be repeated.

Joining Trump and al-Thani at the dinner was Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser to Trump and the US special envoy.

“Great dinner with POTUS. Just ended,” wrote Hamad Al-Muftah, Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, in a post on X.

The White House later acknowledged that the dinner had taken place, though it declined to provide further details.

The meal came after al-Thani held a one-hour meeting at the White House earlier Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to a source familiar with the discussions, the talks focused on Qatar’s continuing role as a mediator in the Middle East and on defense cooperation following the Israeli strike against Hamas in Doha.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that Vance and Rubio had thanked Qatar for its “tireless mediation efforts and its effective role in bringing peace to the region,” and described the country as a “reliable strategic ally of the United States of America.”

The ministry added that al-Thani “affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all measures to protect its security and safeguard its sovereignty in the face of the blatant Israeli attack.”

Trump, meanwhile, criticized the Israeli strike, calling it a unilateral move that did not serve the interests of either the US or Israel.

Even so, Rubio is scheduled to depart for Israel today to meet with Israeli leaders. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a Friday statement that Rubio will emphasize “our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism.”

The United States considers Qatar one of its closest allies in the Gulf. Doha has played a central role in efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of Israeli hostages, and plan for Gaza’s future once the conflict ends.

In comments earlier this week, al-Thani accused Israel of deliberately trying to undermine peace efforts but insisted that Qatar would not back away from its role as mediator.

Israeli security officials now believe the strike in Doha may not have succeeded in eliminating any senior Hamas leaders who were the intended targets.

Hamas later named those killed as Jihad Labad, the chief aide to senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya; al-Hayya’s son, Hammam al-Hayya; and three associates — Abdallah Abd al-Wahid, Muamen Hassouna, and Ahmad Abd al-Malek — described as either advisers or bodyguards. A Qatari security officer, Lance Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari, also lost his life in the attack.

According to Qatar’s state news agency, Doha will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Sunday and Monday to address the Israeli strike.

{Matzav.com}

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel today, as Washington navigates rising friction with its Middle Eastern allies over Israel’s attempt to target Hamas leaders in Qatar and its decision to move forward with additional settlement construction in the West Bank.

Before boarding his flight, Rubio told reporters that both the United States and President Donald Trump were displeased with Israel’s actions in Doha.

He emphasized, however, that America’s alliance with Israel remained firm. At the same time, he said he planned to raise with Israeli officials how the strike could affect Trump’s priorities of freeing the hostages, dismantling Hamas, and bringing the conflict in Gaza to a close.

“What’s happened, has happened,” he said. “We’re gonna meet with them. We’re gonna talk about what the future holds,” he said.

“There are still 48 hostages that deserve to be released immediately, all at once. And there is still the hard work ahead once this ends, of rebuilding Gaza in a way that provides people the quality of life that they all want.”

Rubio added that many questions remain unresolved, including who will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, who will finance it, and who will be responsible for its management.

After his stop in Israel, Rubio is expected to join Trump during his planned visit to Britain next week.

Hamas continues to hold 48 hostages, with Qatar playing a central role, alongside the United States, in brokering a potential ceasefire agreement that would secure their release.

On Tuesday, Israel launched an airstrike in Doha in an effort to eliminate Hamas’s political leadership. American officials criticized the action as a unilateral escalation that undermined both U.S. and Israeli interests.

The attack on Qatari soil, a close American partner, drew strong backlash across the Arab world and disrupted delicate ceasefire and hostage negotiations led by Qatar.

On Friday, Rubio met in Washington with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to discuss the region’s competing priorities. Later that evening, President Trump hosted the Qatari leader for dinner in New York.

Rubio’s trip also sets the stage for upcoming high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York later this month, where France and Britain are expected to move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood — a step opposed by Israel.

The U.S. has argued that such recognition would only strengthen Hamas. Rubio himself has warned that it could accelerate calls by hardliners in Israel’s government to formally annex parts of the West Bank.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu signed an agreement to advance a settlement expansion plan cutting through West Bank territory that Palestinians envision for their state. The United Arab Emirates cautioned last week that this step would cross a “red line” and jeopardize the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords that opened diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE in 2020.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old New Mexico man with making violent online threats to kill Jews, minorities, and a local elected official in the immediate aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced Friday that Jace Allen of Jamestown was arrested after the FBI traced a barrage of extremist posts to his phone. According to the Justice Department, Allen used an alias account to issue “a series of violent and racist threats” on September 11, the day after Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was gunned down during a campus event in Utah. Among the threats, prosecutors said, Allen declared his intent to commit mass murder, target minorities and Jews, and “shoot up” unspecified locations. He also allegedly singled out an Ohio city council member, telling the official, “You’re gonna be one of the first to die.” FBI agents executed a search at Allen’s home and questioned him. The Justice Department said Allen admitted to making the threats, described himself as a Neo-Nazi, and told investigators he “hates Jews and minorities” and hoped to ignite a civil war through online terror. Though Allen claimed he did not own a firearm, agents uncovered videos on his phone showing him firing both a rifle and a handgun in August. Allen has been charged with transmitting interstate threats, a federal offense carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF announced today that it had carried out an airstrike on a high-rise tower in Gaza City that was being used by Hamas.

“Within the building, Hamas established military infrastructure used to advance and execute terrorist attacks against IDF troops in the area,” the military said.

Prior to the attack, IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee issued instructions for residents of Gaza City to evacuate and move south. According to security assessments reported by KAN, more than 280,000 residents have already left the city.

Later in the day, Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a video of the bombing on X/Twitter. “The hurricane continues to strike Gaza. The Burj al-Noor terror tower has been destroyed, and Gaza residents are required to evacuate and head south.”

“Efforts to thwart surveillance and terror infrastructures continue, paving the way for the maneuvering forces – until Hamas is defeated and all hostages are freed,” Katz added.

On Tuesday, the military had already issued its most extensive evacuation order for Gaza City to date. Unlike previous directives, which focused on smaller zones or suggested that a ground entry was on the horizon, this order emphasized an immediate need to leave.

In recent weeks, the IDF has increasingly targeted tall buildings in Gaza City.

Back in early September, three high-rise towers were destroyed after warnings were delivered for residents in surrounding neighborhoods to leave.

While the military has explained that Hamas and other terror groups use these structures to observe troop activity and plot ambushes, it appears the demolitions also serve to push more civilians southward, away from Gaza City.

The IDF has repeatedly told Palestinians for weeks to evacuate the northern areas and head toward the southern part of Gaza.

{Matzav.com Israel}

More than 100,000 demonstrators filled the streets of central London today, waving English and British flags at a rally organized by anti-immigration and anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson.

Authorities said they were deploying a massive police presence throughout the capital. At the same time, a counter-protest organized by “Stand Up to Racism” was scheduled to take place nearby. The day followed a summer of tense demonstrations in Britain centered on immigration and debates over freedom of speech.

By midday, tens of thousands had crowded the streets on the south bank of the Thames before moving toward Westminster, where the UK parliament is located.

Participants carried both the Union Jack and the St George’s Cross, while some also waved American and Israeli flags. A number of attendees wore red MAGA caps associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. Many shouted slogans aimed at Prime Minister Keir Starmer and displayed signs with messages such as “send them home.” Some parents brought their children to the event.

Robinson promoted the “Unite the Kingdom” march as a rally for free speech. Organizers also linked it to mourning Charlie Kirk, the American conservative activist who was killed on Wednesday.

“Hundreds of thousands already pack the streets of central London as we Unite as one for our freedoms,” Robinson posted on X.

Robinson, whose given name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, portrays himself as a journalist exposing corruption. He has drawn support from U.S. billionaire Elon Musk but remains controversial due to multiple criminal convictions. Reform UK, the leading anti-immigration party in Britain that has recently topped polls, has sought to keep its distance from him.

“We want our country back, we want our free speech back on track,” said Sandra Mitchell, one of those at the rally.

“They need to stop illegal migration into this country,” she added. “We believe in Tommy.”

The Metropolitan Police said more than 1,600 officers were on duty across London, including 500 drafted from other regions. With the large-scale demonstrations taking place, police resources were also stretched by major concerts and soccer matches happening the same day.

“We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur,” explained Commander Clair Haynes, who oversaw the security operation.

Haynes acknowledged there had been “anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority” at earlier events, but emphasized that residents of London should not feel pressured to remain indoors.

The weekend before, nearly 900 people were detained at a protest in London against the government’s ban on the activist group Palestine Action.

Immigration now dominates British politics, even overshadowing concerns about the struggling economy. The UK is experiencing record asylum requests, with over 28,000 migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year.

Across the country, red and white English flags have appeared on homes, streets, and even painted on roads. Backers of the movement describe it as an outpouring of national pride, while anti-racism advocates argue it represents hostility toward immigrants.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is slated to attend the upcoming summit of Islamic and Arab leaders, which will convene next week in Doha, Qatar. The gathering is expected to center on Israel’s recent strike in the city, an operation aimed at senior Hamas figures.

During Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami issued a warning to the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, cautioning that Israel could launch further assaults if it gains additional backing or consolidates its influence in the area. He declared that the only effective way to confront Israel is “through force, not through diplomacy.”

Khatami accused Israel of advancing a strategy designed to create a “Greater Israel” extending from the Nile to the Euphrates, alleging that its ambitions include parts of Egypt and Jordan. He added, “The nature of the Zionist entity is bloodshed, and it was born 80 years ago in bloodshed.”

In the same sermon, Khatami charged the United States with complicity in Israel’s strike in Doha. He urged Arab nations to cut both political and economic relations with Israel, invoking the teachings of Islamic clerics, particularly Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s founder.

Turning to Lebanon, Khatami spoke against efforts to strip Hezbollah of its weapons, calling such attempts “extremely dangerous” for Lebanon and for the entire Muslim world. He insisted that Hezbollah represents the “strong arm” of Lebanon and urged Beirut’s leadership not to undermine the group.

{Matzav.com}

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is pushing forward a plan to create a “joint Arab force” that would function in a way similar to NATO, intended to provide protection for any Arab country facing aggression.

The renewed push comes as leaders prepare for the Arab-Islamic summit scheduled for Sunday in Doha.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that this concept was first put forward in Egypt nearly a decade ago, and Cairo is now attempting to bring it back. A senior Egyptian source explained, “Egypt places great hopes on advancing the operational path for this proposal,” though he admitted there are still considerable hurdles, such as deciding when the force would intervene and how it would be deployed.

Reports also indicate that Egypt is drafting a framework to govern how the force could be activated. Its size and structure would depend on each Arab nation’s population and military capabilities, while also factoring in political and regional considerations.

Cairo intends to lead the initiative directly, with Saudi Arabia or another Gulf nation taking a supporting role.

As part of its proposal, Egypt has offered to supply around 20,000 of its troops to the new force, with the goal of speeding up its creation and arming it with modern weapons. The plan suggests that the force would be commanded either by Egypt’s Chief of Staff or by another officer holding the rank of general.

{Matzav.com}

Tonight, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu appeared to acknowledge that Israel’s effort to assassinate Hamas leaders at a gathering in Doha, Qatar, did not succeed.

Posting in English on X, Netanyahu stated that these officials “blocked all ceasefire attempts,” stressing that “getting rid of them” would remove the “main obstacle” to resolving the conflict.

“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” Netanyahu wrote in his message.

“They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war.
Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”

On Friday, Hamas declared that Khalil al-Hayya, one of its senior leaders who had been targeted in the Israeli strike in Qatar earlier this week, survived the attempt.

According to a statement from the group, cited by Channel 13 News, al-Hayya “carried out the funeral prayer for his martyred son who was killed in the strike and for those killed in the assassination attempt, under special security arrangements.”

Hamas did not provide any images or other proof to support its claim.

{Matzav.com}

Erika Kirk, the grieving wife of social media figure Charlie Kirk, delivered her first public remarks to the nation since his death.

“They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and of God’s merciful love. But they should all know this. If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country.”

She declared that his cause would continue, saying, “The movement will not die. I refuse to allow that to happen. We will all refuse to allow that to happen. No one will forget my husband’s name, and I will make sure of that. It will become stronger, bolder, louder and bigger than ever.”

Reflecting on her late husband’s devotion, Erika said, “My husband gave his life for me, for the American nation, for our children. He showed true and supreme love — unconditional love. The sound of this widow weeping echoes throughout this world like a battle cry I have no idea what any of this means. But … I know you do, and so … does our Lord.”

Charlie Kirk, a conservative social media personality and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at the University of Utah.

In response to the tragedy, Trump directed that American flags be lowered to half-staff until Sunday.

{Matzav.com}

Ten F-35B Lightning IIs from the U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd MAW arrived in eastern Puerto Rico today to support counter-narcotics and anti-cartel operations off Latin America, mainly Venezuela.

US troops were filmed seizing a Venezuelan fishing boat in the country’s exclusive economic zone, with their vessel pulling alongside the fishermen and the American warship USS Jason Dunham visible in the background.

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, declared again that if elected, he would order the New York Police Department to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he enter the city. “This is something that I intend to fulfill,” Mamdani told The New York Times, vowing to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The United States does not recognize the authority of the ICC, and legal experts said Mamdani’s threat is likely unenforceable. “Such an arrest has never been made on American soil,” Matthew C. Waxman, a professor at Columbia Law School, told The Times, calling Mamdani’s pledge “more a political stunt than a serious law enforcement policy.” Federal law grants immunity to foreign heads of state, and absent violations of state or city statutes, New York officials would have no authority to act. Still, Mamdani insisted that cities and states must act where Washington will not. “This is a moment where we cannot look to the federal government for leadership,” he said. “This is a moment when cities and states will have to demonstrate what it actually looks like to stand up for our own values, our own people.” Mamdani has already drawn criticism for refusing to condemn the chant “globalize the intifada,” an antisemitic slogan he said he discourages but will not denounce. With New York home to the world’s second-largest Jewish population, his comments could spark sharp backlash ahead of the November election, where he currently leads in the polls by a wide margin. Netanyahu brushed off Mamdani’s threats in July during remarks at the White House, calling them “silly” and “not serious.” He added, “I’m going to come there with President Trump and we’ll see.” Trump, standing beside him, warned Mamdani to “behave” or face “big problems.” Mamdani also said he would seek to detain Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2023. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland has raised its ground-based air defenses to the highest state of readiness and scrambled Polish and allied fighter jets after Russian one-way attack drones were detected over western Ukraine near Polish airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland has raised its ground-based air defenses to the highest state of readiness and scrambled Polish and allied fighter jets after Russian one-way attack drones were detected over western Ukraine near Polish airspace.

US F-35 fighter jets have reportedly touched down in Puerto Rico for Counter-Narco Operations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to arrive in Yerushalayim on Sunday, where he will join Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for a visit to the Kosel, according to journalist Barak Ravid.

Rubio confirmed the trip in a post from the airport, using social media to announce his departure.

“My focus will be on securing the return of the hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas,” he wrote.

“Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the launch of Operation “Eastern Sentry” to bolster defenses in Poland and the Baltics after Russian drone incursions, with Denmark, France, and Germany already pledging fighter jets and naval support, and more allied contributions expected soon.

The IDF targeted the Abu Shaaban building opposite the Taj Mall in the western part of Gaza City.

Turning Point USA had announced a massive event remembering the legacy of Charlie Kirk, an American legend, at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 21st.

Apple CEO Tim Cook on making the iPhone in the USA: “We’re getting significant support from the Administration to pull that off. The President has said that he wants more in the United States — and we want more in the United States.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that under the new deal with the IAEA, inspectors will be barred from Iran’s nuclear sites, with access limited only to the Bushehr plant for fuel replacement.