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Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef sharply condemned a High Court decision issued on Shabbos night permitting a hearing regarding demonstrations at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, in light of Home Front Command guidelines on large gatherings.

In its ruling, the court approved a framework allowing up to 600 demonstrators at Habima Square, while limiting attendance at other locations across the country to a maximum of 150 participants.

“This is an unlawful act in a Jewish state,” Rav Yosef stated. “These judges sit on Shabbos, trample the law, and compel state representatives to respond on the holy day in complete contradiction to the law. They are acting recklessly and crudely trampling the traditions of Israel and our holy Torah.”

He noted that the religious tzibbur had the option to insist on holding the traditional Birkas Kohanim at the Kosel, but refrained due to the ongoing war. At the same time, he said, left-wing demonstrators turned to the court specifically in order to protest and be mechalel Shabbos.

Rav Yosef went on to say that confidence among the religious public in the judicial system has eroded, describing what he sees as a consistently one-sided and anti-religious posture.

“There is not a single religious Jew today who places trust in this brazen group of the Supreme Court. Through their actions, they have become enemies of Judaism,” he said.

“We will fight with all our strength for the identity of the State, and in the end, Judaism will be what prevails.”

New intelligence cited by The Telegraph indicates that, since the war began, four Chinese vessels have docked in Iran carrying materials used in the production of solid fuel for missile engines, raising concerns about Tehran’s potential to expand its ballistic arsenal.

The report states that the ships sailed from Gaolan port in Zhuhai, a major center known for housing some of China’s largest liquid chemical storage facilities.

According to expert assessments, the cargo may have included sufficient quantities of sodium perchlorate to support the manufacture of hundreds of ballistic missiles. At the same time, uncertainty remains over whether Iran is currently capable of producing such weapons after recent strikes by the United States and Israel damaged key facilities.

Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump warned Iran that it has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face serious repercussions.

Previously, Trump had threatened to strike Iran’s critical infrastructure, including its power grid, oil installations, and desalination plants, cautioning that such an attack could effectively “return the country to the Stone Age.”

President Donald Trump tonight shared newly released video showing American airstrikes carried out in Tehran, highlighting the impact of the operation on Iran’s military leadership.

Posting the footage on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!”

Earlier in the day, Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the country faces severe consequences within 48 hours if it fails to change course.

In a message posted on Truth Social, he wrote, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Since the conflict began, Iran has effectively blocked or heavily restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has declared the passage “closed,” threatened commercial shipping, deployed fast attack boats, drones, and missiles, and reportedly placed naval mines in the area.

A far-left anti-war protest took place this evening in Habima Square in Israel, with police moving in to disperse participants after the crowd exceeded the permitted limits. Ten demonstrators were taken into custody.

At the scene, a police officer urged the crowd to leave, warning that the gathering posed a danger to public safety. He later announced that authorities would begin clearing the area, stating, “If necessary, we will use force.”

The protest came after a High Court ruling issued during Shabbos permitting a demonstration of up to 600 participants in the square. The court criticized what it described as inconsistent enforcement, noting that Home Front Command restrictions were being applied to protests while similar guidelines were not uniformly enforced at other events and locations. “This situation is difficult to reconcile,” the ruling stated, adding that officials were aware of other gatherings where regulations had not been enforced.

The decision drew sharp backlash across the political spectrum, particularly because it was issued on Shabbos, raising strong concerns of Chillul Shabbos. The Shas party denounced the move as “a trampling of the sanctity of Shabbat” and announced plans to file a formal complaint against the judges after Yom Tov.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also sharply criticized the ruling, warning that it places the public at risk. “Supreme Court judges making such decisions – whose side are you on?” he said, adding that demanding a response within an hour on Shabbos is unreasonable and undermines security.

Deputy Communications Minister Yisrael Eichler condemned the ruling in strong terms, calling it “a declaration of war against the sanctity of Shabbat,” and accusing the justices of being out of touch and intent on eroding Jewish tradition.

UTJ chairman MK Moshe Gafni likewise spoke out against the decision, describing it as reckless and insensitive. He said issuing such a ruling on Shabbos was done “to prove their superiority over the public in Israel.”

An IDF soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon, the military announced Saturday night, identifying the incident as a friendly fire tragedy that occurred amid an active mission.

Sergeant First Class Guy Ludar, 21, from Yuvalim, served in the elite Maglan Unit of the Commando Brigade and was killed on Friday while engaged in operational activity in southern Lebanon.

During the same incident in which Sergeant First Class Guy Ludar lost his life, another soldier sustained severe injuries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement following the news, saying: “Our hearts are with the family of Maglan unit fighter, Sgt. First Class Guy Ludar, of blessed memory, who fell in the unfortunate incident in southern Lebanon.”

“My wife and I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Guy, of blessed memory, who fought with courage and bravery to protect our communities and our citizens. May his memory be blessed.”

According to reports, Ludar was killed as a result of friendly fire during an operation in the village of Shebaa in southern Lebanon, where forces were carrying out an arrest mission. Another soldier was seriously wounded in the same event.

Preliminary findings indicate that a Maglan special forces team operating late Friday in Shebaa had surrounded a building as part of an effort to detain an individual suspected of collaborating with Hezbollah when the incident occurred.

At one point during the operation, a soldier spotted figures he believed to be “suspects” attempting to flee the area and opened fire.

It was later discovered that those individuals were fellow members of the same unit. The IDF has classified the incident as friendly fire caused by a breakdown in coordination regarding the positioning of troops, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.

The suspect believed to have aided Hezbollah was ultimately captured and brought into Israel for interrogation.