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With 35 days remaining until Israel’s election, a new Channel 12 poll shows Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu moving ahead of Naftali Bennett in a head-to-head question over suitability for prime minister, reversing the result of a similar survey released just one week earlier. Netanyahu also narrowed Gadi Eisenkot’s advantage over him, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party remained the largest party in the Knesset projection.

According to the survey, 41% of respondents said Netanyahu was better suited to serve as prime minister when compared directly with Bennett, while 37% chose Bennett. Another 19% said neither man was suitable, and 3% answered that they did not know.

That marks a shift from Channel 12’s previous poll a week earlier, when Bennett received 40% compared with Netanyahu’s 39%. In the new survey, Netanyahu gained two percentage points while Bennett fell by three.

Netanyahu also improved his numbers in a head-to-head comparison with Eisenkot, although Eisenkot remained ahead in that matchup. The new poll gave Eisenkot 41% and Netanyahu 38%, a three-point difference. A week earlier, Eisenkot held a six-point advantage, 42% to 36%. In the latest survey, 15% selected neither candidate and 6% said they did not know.

The projected Knesset map showed relatively little movement. Yashar, headed by Eisenkot, remained in first place with 23 seats, followed by Netanyahu’s Likud with 20 and Bennett’s Beyachad with 13. Those top-line numbers were unchanged from the previous Channel 12 survey.

Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu gained one seat to reach nine, while Yair Golan’s Democrats dropped from 10 seats to nine.

The chareidi parties remained unchanged, with United Torah Judaism, headed by Yaakov Asher, receiving eight seats and Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, receiving seven. Together, the two parties were projected to hold 15 Knesset seats.

The Joint List, led by Yousef Jabareen, fell by one seat to seven. Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit remained at six seats, while the Religious Zionism-Zehut list headed by Bezalel Smotrich held steady at five.

Ra’am, headed by Mansour Abbas, gained one seat to reach five. Ofer Winter’s Amcha Yisrael received four seats, while the joint Reservists-New Economic Party list headed by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha also received four seats, once again clearing the electoral threshold in the poll.

Several parties remained below the threshold. Benny Gantz’s Blue and White received 0.7%, Moti Leitner’s Hatzibur Hachareidi received 0.3%, Avi Maoz’s Noam LeYisrael received 0.1%, and Sharren Haskel’s Yisrael Techila registered 0%.

Despite movement among individual parties, the overall bloc totals were unchanged from the previous Channel 12 poll. Parties opposed to Netanyahu were projected at 66 seats, including 54 seats for Zionist parties and 12 for Arab parties. Parties currently aligned with the coalition received 50 seats, while the Hendel-Zelekha list, categorized by the survey as part of a separate “third bloc,” received four.

The survey also compared Netanyahu with Liberman on suitability for prime minister. Netanyahu received 38% compared with Liberman’s 28%, while another 28% said neither was suitable and 6% answered that they did not know.

The poll was conducted on September 22 by Midgam Consulting and Research, headed by Manu Geva. It surveyed a representative sample of Israeli residents age 18 and older, with 501 respondents participating out of 2,498 people approached. The reported maximum sampling error was 4.4 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

Spain’s government has allowed a U.S. extradition request against American multimillionaire James “Fergie” Chambers to move forward to the courts, advancing a case in which U.S. authorities accuse the wealthy pro-Palestinian activist of money laundering and other offenses connected to alleged support for Hamas-linked organizations. Chambers denies wrongdoing, while his attorneys contend that the case is politically motivated.

The 41-year-old Chambers has been held in Spain since July, when he was arrested in Ibiza at the request of U.S. authorities. He is currently being held in pretrial detention in Madrid.

The case centers in part on $7.5 million that Chambers transferred from a U.S. bank account to Tunisia, where he previously lived. U.S. authorities allege that the transaction was connected to money laundering and financing organizations linked to Hamas. The full details of the U.S. case have not been made public, and the underlying charges remain sealed.

Chambers’ attorneys reject those allegations. They maintain that his money went toward humanitarian and other projects and say the $7.5 million transfer was connected to Club Africain, a Tunisian soccer club. His defense team argues that Washington’s extradition effort is driven by Chambers’ political activism and outspoken support for the Palestinian cause.

Chambers comes from the Cox family, whose business holdings include the privately owned Cox Enterprises media and communications empire. He broke financially with his family several years ago, receiving approximately $250 million after selling his stake back to the family in 2023, according to his representatives.

In recent years, Chambers has embraced radical left-wing politics, describing himself as a communist and anti-imperialist. He has provided financial support to numerous left-wing and pro-Palestinian causes, including humanitarian projects connected to Gaza and legal expenses involving activists associated with Palestine Action.

His public statements following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack have also drawn controversy. Chambers publicly defended what he termed Palestinian resistance and has made statements rejecting the legitimacy of Israel. The New York Times recently reported that Chambers had championed Hamas following the October 7 attack.

Those statements have become part of the broader debate surrounding his case, although his attorneys maintain that Chambers’ political views do not establish that he illegally financed Hamas or any other terrorist organization.

Chambers’ wife, actress and activist Stella Schnabel, has publicly defended him and says documentation exists showing where his money was sent. She has also lobbied Spanish lawmakers against approving the extradition. Chambers’ legal team, led by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, has additionally applied for asylum in Spain.

The case has generated significant political opposition inside Spain. Members of Sumar, the junior partner in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government, as well as Podemos politicians, have urged the government to block the extradition. Supporters of Chambers have also organized demonstrations, while public figures including Richard Gere and Greta Thunberg have joined calls opposing his transfer to the United States.

Tuesday’s decision by the Spanish government does not mean Chambers will automatically be extradited. Government spokeswoman Elma Saiz described the action as “purely procedural,” explaining that Spain’s National Court must now examine the U.S. request and Chambers’ legal arguments before a final determination is made.

If the court determines that the legal requirements for extradition have been met, the matter will return to the Spanish government for a final decision. Spanish law also allows extradition to be denied when authorities determine that a request is politically motivated, an argument Chambers’ attorneys are expected to press as the proceedings continue.

Gulf Arab leaders were preparing to press President Donald Trump to avoid a new escalation with Iran during talks in New York on Tuesday, hours after Trump used his UN General Assembly address to warn that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if efforts to reach an agreement fail. Reuters confirmed that Trump was scheduled to meet representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states following his speech.

Officials representing the GCC — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman — coordinated their positions before meeting Trump on the sidelines of the UN gathering, according to Bloomberg.

The New York Post likewise reported that Gulf officials intended to make the case for diplomacy and caution Trump against expanding the conflict.

Their meeting came shortly after Trump delivered a stark warning to Tehran from the UN podium, framing the next stage of the conflict as a choice between an agreement and further military action. Reuters reported that Trump simultaneously predicted that Washington and Tehran would ultimately reach an agreement.

“But I have a big decision to make,” Trump said. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly?”

Trump used his address to defend the U.S. military campaign against Iran and argue that it had helped prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He warned that the Islamic Republic could face further devastating action if negotiations fail.

At the same time, Trump said he expected the two countries eventually to reach an agreement, suggesting that a settlement could come after the November 3 midterm elections.

The six Gulf nations have been directly exposed to the repercussions of the nearly seven-month conflict. Attacks in the region, threats to Gulf territory and interruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have created security and economic concerns for the GCC states. Reuters reported Tuesday that the continuing tensions have also weighed on Gulf financial markets and energy flows.

Bloomberg reported that Gulf governments had warned Trump before the war against military action, arguing that a broader confrontation with Iran risked destabilizing the region.

After hostilities began and Iran retaliated, some Gulf governments took tougher positions toward Tehran, according to Bloomberg. As the conflict dragged on and Iran retained the ability to target neighboring states, however, those governments increasingly returned their focus to finding a diplomatic way out.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani described the conflict Sunday as an “earthquake” for the region and said lasting security could not be built through “repeated cycles of escalation and retaliation,” Bloomberg reported.

CNN reported that the Gulf leaders entered their meeting with Trump facing concerns in both directions: they want to avoid becoming further entangled in the war, while also seeking clarity about the level of U.S. security support they could expect if Washington eventually reduces its military presence in the region.

According to CNN, Gulf leaders have previously urged Trump to pull back from a major escalation, arguing that negotiations with Tehran could still produce an agreement.

The meeting also took place amid fresh signs that both Washington and Tehran may be willing to explore another diplomatic track. Trump said later Tuesday that there was “a lot of momentum” toward an agreement after U.S. envoys held talks involving Iranian officials and regional mediators.

A senior Iranian official separately told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington reduced military pressure and ended its blockade of Iranian ports. The official said Iran’s delegation in New York had authority to pursue renewed diplomacy and described the UN gathering as an opportunity to restart negotiations.

With the war approaching the seven-month mark, the Gulf leaders were expected to use their meeting with Trump to emphasize the regional dangers of another military escalation while the administration considers whether to pursue renewed negotiations or further action against Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s office sharply rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday after Macron declared at the United Nations that Hamas “has never been very active” in Judea and Samaria, pointing to the murder two days earlier of Netanel Shakron, a father of six, in a shooting attack near Neve Tzuf. Israeli reports identified the suspected gunman as a Hamas operative.

Macron made the assertion while addressing developments in Judea and Samaria during his speech at the UN General Assembly, drawing a furious response from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is staggering. On Sunday, the eve of Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Shakron – a FRENCH CITIZEN and father of six – was murdered in his car by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria. With his final breath, he told his son to run,” the statement said.

Shakron had gone with his eldest son to a spring near Neve Tzuf ahead of Yom Kippur when the shooting took place. He was critically wounded and later died at Beilinson Hospital. His son was unharmed.

Netanyahu’s office continued its attack on Macron’s characterization of Hamas activity in the region.

“Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria. Ignorance is NO EXCUSE for erasing their blood,” it added.

Macron’s disputed remarks came as he criticized Israeli policy and activity in Judea and Samaria from the podium of the General Assembly.

“Look, just look at what is happening in the West Bank. Day after day, we are seeing violations,” Macron said, referring to Israeli government policies and activity on the hilltops in the area.

He then argued that Hamas activity could not justify those policies.

“And in the name of what? Hamas has never been very active in the West Bank. What we need is respect for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, their legitimate right to exist.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also responded forcefully, citing Shakron’s killing as evidence against Macron’s assertion and accusing the French president of giving a false account of Hamas’s involvement in Judea and Samaria.

“President Macron is lying. This week, on Sunday, a despicable terrorist from the Hamas terrorist organization murdered Netanel Shakron, may God avenge his blood, who was bathing with his sons in a spring ahead of Yom Kippur. This is just one attack out of hundreds of attacks led by the Hamas terrorist organization. The terrorist organization fuels Arab terrorism in Judea and Samaria and is a significant part of it and its activities.”

Smotrich went on to frame Israel’s expansion and strengthening of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as part of its response to terrorism. He also turned to domestic Israeli politics, warning that a future government led by opposition figures could reverse those policies.

He added: “Against this terrorism, we stand as a fortified wall, fortifying and strengthening the communities and building the State of Israel’s security belt. And I warn: An Eisenkot-Liberman-Golan government will evacuate the communities we established and establish a terrorist state in the heart of the State of Israel. Macron is waiting for this, the European Union is waiting for this, and we must not allow it to happen – and only a strong Religious Zionist party will prevent it from happening.”

{Matzav.com}

Weeks before the October 7 massacre, Israeli security officials received an unusual message attributed to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar warning that “An earthquake is expected in the prisons because of the prisoner issue.” The warning triggered discussions inside Israel’s security establishment, but officials at the time connected it to the captivity of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Iraq rather than viewing it as a possible signal connected to an impending Hamas attack.

Channel 12 News reported Tuesday evening on new details surrounding the intelligence assessment and the circumstances that led officials to interpret Sinwar’s message through the lens of the Tsurkov case.

According to the report, Israeli intelligence had learned at roughly the same time of a development involving Tsurkov, who had been abducted in Iraq. A senior Iranian official had reportedly approached Hamas with a proposal that the terror group take responsibility for negotiations aimed at securing her release, while the pro-Iranian Iraqi group holding Tsurkov had agreed to the arrangement.

Against that backdrop, Israeli intelligence officials believed Sinwar’s reference to prisoners fit with the information they were already receiving about Tsurkov.

“Sinwar’s message fit the new intelligence picture like a glove,” officials who participated in the discussions told Channel 12 News.

The message led the Shin Bet to request a special situation assessment. According to the report, those taking part in the discussion did not offer an alternative explanation for Sinwar’s words, and the prevailing assessment remained that his warning was connected to the developing Tsurkov negotiations.

Channel 12 reported that the assessment proved incorrect. In retrospect, according to the network, Sinwar’s message was part of an effort to secure additional concessions from Israel while delaying and concealing the attack Hamas was preparing. The network reported that the message had been conveyed in September 2023 through Sufian Abu Zaida, a senior Fatah figure associated with Mohammed Dahlan, before reaching Israeli intelligence officials.

The report also revisited recent claims involving a warning from the United Arab Emirates ahead of October 7. Channel 12 reported that Emirati intelligence had warned the Shin Bet in September 2023 that Hamas could carry out a violent action, and that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed subsequently contacted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure that the information had reached him. Netanyahu has denied that such a conversation took place.

A senior Israeli security official cited in the report said that such a warning, had it reached Netanyahu as described, might have prompted officials to reconsider the reassuring intelligence assessments that were prevailing at the time.

“If a message indeed subsequently reached the Prime Minister himself from Mohammed bin Zayed, it could have been the missing piece that would have prompted us to take additional, more in-depth steps,” the senior official said. “Something was needed that would outweigh the reassuring signs that we had presented to ourselves. It is possible that this could have been that sign.”

Chris Christie is openly considering another run for the White House in 2028, with the former New Jersey governor acknowledging Tuesday that the possibility of a third presidential campaign remains very much on his mind.

Christie, who sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and again in 2024, discussed his political future while appearing at the Granite State Summit on Responsible Gambling in Manchester, New Hampshire. The event listed Christie as its keynote speaker.

The onetime Trump ally, who later became a prominent Republican critic of President Donald Trump and challenged him for the GOP nomination in 2024, said the results of this November’s midterm elections could influence how Republicans think about the party’s direction heading toward the next presidential race.

Christie suggested that significant Republican losses could prompt questions within the party about whether its current approach, and what he called its “dominant wing,” should change.

“So, am I looking at it? Look, anybody who comes up here, anybody who comes up here and has ever run for president and not one and told you they’re not looking at it again is lying. …,” Christie said, according to footage of his appearance shared by WMUR political director Adam Sexton.

Christie said that once someone has gone through the process of seriously envisioning himself in the Oval Office, the idea does not simply disappear after an unsuccessful campaign.

“Once you go through the thought process of convincing yourself that you can be president, and then the next step that you should be president, that doesn’t leave your brain.”

But Christie indicated that merely wanting to run again would not be enough. Any third campaign, he said, would have to be based on a credible rationale that he could explain to his wife, Mary Pat.

“So, the way I look at this is, if I’m going to go back home to my wife and say, ‘I know you may not believe this, but third time is the charm,’ like, I better have a real theory,” Christie continued. “And what she has said to me is, ‘Chris, I want to see the path.’”

Christie’s comments come six weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake. Public polling and outside election forecasts are continuing to shift as voters prepare for November, making the eventual results a potentially significant factor in how both parties approach the 2028 presidential campaign.

Although the next presidential election remains more than two years away, prospective candidates from both parties have already been making appearances in early-primary states. New Hampshire, where Christie spoke Tuesday, is required under state law to hold its presidential primary before any similar contest, despite continuing disputes over the Democratic Party’s nominating calendar.

Within the Republican Party, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among the prominent figures who have drawn public discussion about 2028. Neither point, however, changes Christie’s calculation: he has repeatedly declined to close the door on another campaign and has indicated that the political landscape following the 2026 elections will play a role in his decision.

For Christie, who ended his 2024 campaign shortly before the New Hampshire primary, the latest comments represent one of his clearest acknowledgments yet that his presidential ambitions may not have ended with his second attempt at the Republican nomination.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has removed roughly 750,000 people from Affordable Care Act health plans as part of a broad crackdown on suspected fraudulent, unauthorized or otherwise ineligible enrollments, Vice President JD Vance announced Tuesday. Administration officials said the cancellations are expected to save taxpayers approximately $2.2 billion.

The initiative is being carried out through the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, headed by Vance, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services playing a central role. CMS has been tightening verification and enforcement procedures across the ACA exchanges, saying unauthorized enrollments and improper subsidies have become a significant problem.

“These are not real people. We’re not paying insurance for nonexistent ghosts,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said during a press conference.

Oz also estimated that approximately 35 percent of people enrolled through the ObamaCare exchanges have never made use of their insurance coverage.

Vance stressed that the administration views the initiative as an anti-fraud effort rather than an attempt to strip legitimate beneficiaries of health coverage.

“This is not about cutting off anybody from their benefits. It’s about cutting off fraudsters from stealing from these programs,” the vice president said Tuesday.

Vance and Oz said they were confident that legitimate beneficiaries would not be improperly removed, pointing to factors including the absence of insurance claims, missing Social Security numbers and failures to respond to attempts by the government to verify enrollment information. Reuters reported that the canceled policies involved unverified citizenship or immigration status as well as suspected unauthorized enrollments.

“We are putting ourselves under an extraordinary burden of proof,” Vance said. “So those 750,000 people are people that we feel confident either don’t know that they’re enrolled in the program, aren’t using the program at all, are unaware of it or … are potentially phantom people who are enrolled against their will, or maybe they don’t even exist.”

The administration is also temporarily freezing the registration of new insurance agents and brokers as it expands scrutiny of the enrollment system. CMS has separately taken enforcement action against hundreds of brokers over alleged violations connected to ACA enrollment. Reuters reported that 569 brokers were barred from participation after applications were submitted at implausibly high rates or without key identifying information.

The healthcare crackdown comes weeks before the November midterm elections, as Republicans and Democrats clash over healthcare affordability and access. Republicans have defended recent changes as necessary to curb waste and improper spending, while Democrats have argued that changes to ACA subsidies and other healthcare programs could increase costs and reduce coverage.

Enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans expanded significantly during the Biden administration, helped in part by enhanced premium subsidies. The Trump administration has argued that enrollment safeguards during that period were inadequate and allowed improper or unauthorized sign-ups to proliferate. CMS said earlier this year that it had ended premium subsidies for nearly 1.5 million people over the preceding year after determining that they were either ineligible for financial assistance or had been enrolled without authorization.

Administration officials and congressional Republicans have also disputed projections about the number of Americans expected to lose insurance under Republican healthcare changes, arguing that at least some of the reductions reflect the removal of improper enrollments rather than legitimate beneficiaries losing coverage.

Republicans have accused the Biden administration and Democrats of emphasizing increased ACA enrollment without imposing adequate safeguards to ensure that applicants were eligible and had actually authorized their enrollment. Democrats and healthcare advocacy organizations have challenged that characterization and warned that stricter verification procedures can also create obstacles for eligible consumers.

Approximately 19 million Americans were enrolled in health plans through ACA exchanges as of figures released by federal health officials earlier this year. CMS publishes enrollment information for both the federally facilitated marketplace and state-based exchanges.

The Paragon Health Institute, a conservative healthcare policy organization led by Brian Blase, who served as a healthcare policy official during President Trump’s first term, has been among the groups drawing attention to alleged improper ACA enrollment. The organization estimated earlier this year that more than 6 million people were improperly enrolled in exchange coverage during 2026 and argued that improper subsidies could cost taxpayers nearly $25 billion.

Protect Our Care, a Democratic-aligned healthcare advocacy organization, disputed the administration’s characterization of the crackdown, calling the action a “smokescreen” and arguing that eligible Americans could lose health coverage. The organization also pointed to the administration’s previous reinstatement of hundreds of ACA brokers and agents who had been suspected of fraudulent activity.

“Families need coverage they can afford and count on when they get sick. Vance’s task force won’t accomplish that. It’s a smokescreen for an administration whose sole mission is to make it harder to get and stay covered but to shower billionaires with tax breaks instead,” Brad Woodhouse, Protect Our Care’s president, said in a statement.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a blistering attack on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, accusing the UN chief of fueling terrorism and endangering hundreds of thousands of Israelis following Guterres’ criticism of Israeli policies in Yehuda and Shomron during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

“The UN Secretary-General’s wild incitement gives a tailwind to terrorism,” Smotrich wrote on X. “He is endangering the lives of half a million Jewish Israeli citizens living in Judea and Samaria.”

Smotrich also invoked the controversy surrounding UNRWA, arguing that Guterres was in no position to lecture Israel over its policies.

“Someone who heads the organization that funded and provided cover for UNRWA – the operational arm of the Hamas terrorist organization in the October 7 massacre – cannot preach to us about anything.”

The finance minister then defended the Israeli government’s expansion of Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron and openly linked those efforts to preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“I am proud to be spearheading a settlement revolution in Judea and Samaria that is, in practice, eliminating the idea of a Palestinian state and strengthening Israel’s security.”

Smotrich’s comments followed Guterres’ final address as UN secretary-general to the General Assembly, in which the UN chief sharply criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza as well as settlement growth and violence in Yehuda and Shomron. Guterres reiterated his support for a two-state solution, a position he has repeatedly advanced during his tenure.

“It is nearly three years since the abhorrent terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October,” Guterres said, “but what followed was an onslaught on Palestinians in Gaza with a scale of killing and destruction unlike anything I have witnessed in my years as Secretary-General.”

Turning to Yehuda and Shomron, Guterres accused Israel of pursuing policies that threaten the possibility of a future Palestinian state and warned of what he described as the potential for ethnic cleansing. His comments were consistent with positions he has expressed throughout 2026 opposing Israeli settlement expansion and calling for renewed movement toward a two-state solution.

“Meanwhile, violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the specter of ethnic cleansing. We cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our eyes.”

{Matzav.com}

Fourteen Israeli activists crossed the border into Syria on Tuesday in an effort to promote future Jewish settlement in the area, prompting IDF troops to locate the group and bring its members back into Israel.

The unusual incident unfolded near Aloney HaBashan, where the civilians crossed into Syrian territory before an IDF force was sent to intercept them. The military strongly condemned the action, saying it endangered soldiers operating in the sensitive border region.

According to the HaBashan Pioneers movement, whose members carried out the crossing, the activists entered an area they refer to as Neve HaBashan, located inside Syrian territory currently under IDF control. The group said it was returning to a site that families affiliated with the movement had previously reached before being removed.

Tuesday’s crossing was not the first effort by members of the movement to enter the area. On this occasion, the IDF said, 14 civilians reached the Aloney HaBashan region and proceeded across the border into Syria.

After becoming aware of the breach, the IDF dispatched troops to the scene. Soldiers found the activists and escorted them back to Israeli territory. According to the military, the individuals were then set to be handed over to the Israel Police for further action.

The IDF issued a sharp condemnation of the activists’ conduct, warning that unauthorized civilian crossings interfere with military operations and can put Israeli troops at risk.

“The IDF strongly condemns the incident, which constitutes another case of serious interference with operational activity and poses a danger to the safety of IDF forces operating in the area,” the military said.

The army also urged law-enforcement authorities to pursue the matter in an effort to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

“Law enforcement authorities are required to bring those involved to justice, in order to prevent these civilians from repeatedly engaging in this phenomenon, which constitutes a criminal offense.”

For its part, the HaBashan Pioneers movement said the activists deliberately entered the area as part of their campaign to promote Israeli settlement in the Bashan region. The group said its members believe that existing political and grassroots support for such a move has not yet translated into concrete action.

“After we realized that there is support for the idea of legal Israeli settlement in the Bashan, both from the political side and from elements on the ground, but that they are not sufficient to bring the matter to fruition, the activists decided to return and push from the grassroots, in the hope that we will soon reach actual settlement.”

A notorious cybercrime group says it penetrated FBI systems and obtained highly sensitive personal information belonging to thousands of bureau employees, potentially exposing home addresses, telephone numbers and details about employees’ spouses.

The group, known as ShinyHunters, announced the alleged breach on Tuesday. The FBI has not confirmed that its systems were compromised. Reuters said it reached out to the bureau multiple times seeking comment but had not received a response as of publication.

The technology news outlet 404 Media reported that it was provided with a sample containing roughly 5,000 records of individuals purportedly associated with the FBI. According to the report, the material included names, residential addresses, telephone numbers and information relating to spouses of bureau employees.

ShinyHunters maintains that the full collection of stolen material is substantially larger than the sample and contains extensive information about FBI personnel. Those claims have not been independently verified, however, and there is not yet a clear picture of whether FBI computer systems were actually compromised or how extensive any intrusion may have been.

The allegations come as ShinyHunters continues to draw attention for its activities in the cybercrime world. The group recently claimed that it had seized control of a dark-web website operated by Cl0p, another well-known hacking organization, marking an unusual confrontation between two cybercriminal groups.

Should the FBI breach ultimately be confirmed at the scale described by ShinyHunters, it could constitute a serious cybersecurity incident because of the nature of the personal information allegedly obtained and the potential exposure of thousands of federal law-enforcement personnel.

For now, key details remain unresolved. The FBI has yet to publicly confirm the reported intrusion, and the full size, method and consequences of the alleged breach have not been independently established.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon praised President Donald Trump on Tuesday following Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly, saying the speech demonstrated American “strength and leadership” and underscored the close alliance between the United States and Israel.

Trump delivered the address on the opening day of the 81st UN General Assembly’s general debate in New York. His wide-ranging speech focused heavily on American foreign policy, including Iran and other international conflicts, while defending his administration’s approach to confronting hostile regimes and pursuing diplomatic agreements.

Danon responded by thanking Trump and emphasizing what he described as the shared values and strategic partnership binding Washington and Yerushalayim.

“Thank you, President Trump, for opening the General Assembly today with a clear message of strength and leadership,” Danon said.

“The United States and Israel are bound by shared values and a deep alliance. The Abraham Accords proved that bold leadership can transform the Middle East. Together, we will continue to confront the axis of evil and expand the circle of peace,” he added.

Danon’s reference to the Abraham Accords highlighted one of the signature Middle East initiatives of Trump’s presidency. The agreements established normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries, beginning with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020, with the stated goal of building broader regional cooperation and stability.

Trump has continued to call for additional countries to join the Abraham Accords and has repeatedly portrayed their expansion as an important element of his Middle East policy.

Danon’s reference to confronting an “axis of evil” came as Iran featured prominently in Trump’s UN remarks. Trump sharply criticized Tehran and defended his administration’s military and economic policies toward the Iranian regime, while also indicating that Washington remained open to negotiations under certain conditions.

{Matzav.com}

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to deliver sharp criticism of Israel, condemning its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7 massacre and attacking Israeli settlement policies in Yehudah and Shomron.

Nearly three years after Hamas terrorists carried out the October 7 atrocities, Guterres acknowledged the attack before turning his attention to Israel’s military response in Gaza.

“It is nearly three years since the abhorrent terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October,” Guterres said, “but what followed was an onslaught on Palestinians in Gaza with a scale of killing and destruction unlike anything I have witnessed in my years as Secretary-General.”

The article challenged Guterres’ characterization, pointing to conflicts in Congo, Sudan and Syria that have resulted in enormous death tolls, including hundreds of thousands of fatalities and, in Congo’s case, estimates reaching into the millions.

Guterres also invoked the proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, noting that the court has ordered provisional measures in the case involving allegations under the Genocide Convention relating to Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The UN chief further cited an advisory opinion issued by the court last year, emphasizing its position that the United Nations must be allowed to fulfill its responsibilities in Gaza and that UN employees and humanitarian workers must receive protection.

“All parties must comply with international law and the Court’s orders,” the Secretary-General stated.

Guterres then shifted his focus to Yehudah and Shomron, which he called the “occupied West Bank,” arguing that Israeli settlement activity, displacement and violence were eroding the prospects for a negotiated settlement.

“Meanwhile, violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the specter of ethnic cleansing,” he said.

The article criticized Guterres for making that accusation without addressing violence originating from the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Yehudah and Shomron.

Guterres concluded that portion of his General Assembly address by urging that the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel be maintained.

“We cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our eyes,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir announced Tuesday evening that his party will demand control of two of Israel’s most powerful ministries in the next government, with Ben Gvir seeking the Defense Ministry for himself and MK Tally Gotliv slated for the Justice Ministry.

The demands were presented as part of Otzma Yehudit’s agenda ahead of the 2026 elections and future coalition negotiations. Ben Gvir and Gotliv also outlined policy changes they would seek to implement in the defense and judicial spheres. Recent reporting has described Ben Gvir and Gotliv as the top two figures on the Otzma Yehudit slate.

Under the security platform presented by Ben Gvir, Israel would adopt a policy aimed at encouraging voluntary emigration from both the Gaza Strip and Yehudah and Shomron. The plan also calls for disarming the Palestinian Authority and arresting senior PA officials who support terrorism.

Ben Gvir is additionally seeking major changes to IDF policy, including revised rules of engagement and broader protections for soldiers carrying out operational duties. His proposals include increasing soldiers’ salaries and providing free land to combat soldiers.

The Otzma Yehudit chairman is also calling for changes within the IDF itself. Among the proposals is replacing what the party characterized as “Asa Kasher’s progressive ethical code,” along with opening elite military units, including Unit 8200, to candidates from across the Israeli population.

The demands come as Otzma Yehudit campaigns for the upcoming elections, with Ben Gvir making security and the composition of the next government central issues in his campaign.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asked the United States to provide him with security protection while he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the State Department agreeing to the request following a threat assessment, according to reports Tuesday.

The unusual arrangement means that personnel from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service will provide additional protection for one of Iran’s most senior officials while he is on American soil. The request was first reported by Axios reporter Barak Ravid and subsequently confirmed in additional reports.

According to a State Department letter dated September 18 and addressed to Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Tehran formally requested protective security assistance for Araghchi. U.S. officials then conducted an assessment of potential threats against the Iranian foreign minister before approving the request.

The security request comes amid intense tensions between Washington and Tehran and as senior officials from both countries converge on New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday evening at the head of a senior Iranian diplomatic delegation. His visit marks his first trip to the United States since the outbreak of the current U.S.-Iran conflict. He was received at John F. Kennedy International Airport by representatives of Iran’s mission to the United Nations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also traveling to New York for the 81st session of the General Assembly and is expected to address the gathering and hold a series of meetings with foreign leaders.

The Trump administration approved visas for both Pezeshkian and Araghchi, along with other members of Iran’s core delegation, allowing them to attend the UN meetings. The Iranian officials are nevertheless subject to restrictions on their movement while in New York, as well as limitations imposed by Washington on certain purchases.

The decision to provide Araghchi with American security personnel highlights the unusual circumstances surrounding the UN gathering: the United States is providing protection to a senior representative of a government with which it is currently engaged in a bitter confrontation.

The Diplomatic Security Service, which operates under the State Department, is responsible for protecting visiting foreign dignitaries and conducting threat assessments connected to diplomatic activity in the United States. In Araghchi’s case, officials determined that additional protection was warranted after reviewing potential threats, according to the reports.

Araghchi, meanwhile, has already used his arrival in New York to sharply criticize both the United States and Israel. Speaking to reporters Monday night, he said Iran’s principal objective at the General Assembly would be to defend what Tehran views as the rights and interests of the Iranian people.

Iranian officials have indicated that Araghchi will hold a series of meetings with foreign ministers and other officials on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Pezeshkian is likewise scheduled for bilateral meetings during his stay.

Despite the presence of senior American and Iranian officials in New York at the same time, no meeting between Pezeshkian and President Donald Trump is currently planned. Iran has nevertheless signaled that its delegation has authority to engage in diplomatic efforts while in New York as tensions between the two countries remain extraordinarily high.

The spectacle is an unusual one: Araghchi arrived in the United States representing a government locked in a major confrontation with Washington, while at the same time relying on American diplomatic security officers to help ensure his safety during his stay in New York.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to Iran from the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, saying the United States is prepared to unleash overwhelming military force against the Islamic Republic if diplomacy fails, even as he predicted that Tehran will ultimately agree to a deal following the U.S. midterm elections.

Speaking before world leaders, Trump said Iran now faces a choice between reaching an agreement that would give the country an opportunity to rebuild or risking another devastating round of U.S. military action.

“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump asked.

“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”

Despite the warning, Trump said he expects the confrontation ultimately to end through negotiations. He suggested that Iranian leaders are waiting to see the results of the November midterm elections before committing themselves to an agreement.

“But I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” Trump said. “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election.

“What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.”

Trump insisted that the election results would not determine his approach toward Tehran, reiterating that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of his administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately said Tuesday that Washington remains open to meeting with Iranian representatives at the U.N., although no meeting had yet been scheduled.

“From the first day I entered the political arena, I’ve been unwavering. I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Trump portrayed the current confrontation as the consequence of Tehran repeatedly rejecting diplomatic opportunities while expanding missile and drone capabilities that he said threatened American forces, other countries in the region and Europe.

The president pointed to Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury as evidence of the damage already inflicted on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The Trump administration has said Operation Epic Fury was aimed at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities and production capacity, crippling its navy and preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump said Operation Midnight Hammer had “obliterated their nuclear program beneath mountains of rubble” and maintained that Operation Epic Fury had devastated Iran’s navy and much of its remaining military capabilities.

“As a result of Operation Epic Fury, all 159 ships of their Navy are now lying at the bottom of the sea,” Trump said.

“Likewise, their air force is gone. Their radar is gone, their anti-aircraft equipment is gone. Their missiles and drone manufacturing capacity is almost gone.”

Trump also accused Iran of violating a ceasefire through attacks on civilian shipping and called on countries around the world to intensify economic pressure on Tehran. The administration launched a broader financial pressure campaign, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, in August.

“I call on all nations to join us in enforcing the complete economic isolation of Iran until they stop their attacks on commercial shipping, relinquish their nuclear ambitions, and cease their support of terror,” he said.

The president said U.S. naval escorts have helped move more than 1 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, meanwhile, indicated Tuesday that it could be prepared to reopen the waterway if Washington eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump also rejected suggestions that prolonged U.S. military operations have depleted American weapons stockpiles, saying 18 new production facilities are under construction.

“We have more munitions than we could ever possibly even think of using, and we’re building them at levels that we have never done before,” Trump said.

Trump used the U.N. address to offer a broader defense of his foreign policy record, saying personal diplomacy, economic leverage, trade and tariffs had helped settle eight wars. The White House lists eight conflicts it says the administration brought to an end.

Turning to Gaza, Trump said his administration had brought the war there to an end and secured the return of all remaining hostages.

“We also brought home all remaining hostages, both living and dead. Every single one of them,” he said.

Trump thanked the U.N. Security Council for backing his 20-point Gaza peace plan and said nearly 30 countries had joined the Board of Peace, which he chairs.

On the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said Washington continues working with both sides and expressed confidence that the conflict will eventually be resolved, although he announced no new agreement Tuesday.

“We’re working very closely with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, and we will get that one done,” he said.

Trump also highlighted the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and pointed to an oil agreement that he said covers 65 billion barrels. The White House has cited Maduro’s capture as part of its effort to reassert American power in the Western Hemisphere.

“To the victor belong the spoils,” Trump said.

Trump presented the Venezuela operation as a warning that Washington is prepared to defend what it considers vital American interests throughout the Western Hemisphere.

“And if necessary, we will use our unmatched military might to secure the vital national interests of the United States,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A huge display featuring dozens of 8.5×11 and 11×17 posters as well as a large vinyl posters great for hanging in one’s Sukkah or home will be sold for just a few dollars each in Lakewood at the Lakewood Arba Minim Shuk September 22-25 at 400 Oak Street. Besides the dozens of small posters, there will also be hundreds of other Gedolim pictures and drawings to purchase in various sizes at discounted prices. Laminating will be available on the spot. This will be your one-stop-shop for all your Gedolim portrait needs. Many of these Gedolim posters can be purchased as well in Brooklyn outside Shomer Shabbos on 13th Avenue through Sukkos. We are also accepting online orders at gedolimsukkahposters.com.  Use code MATZAV10 for 10% off your order!

Israel’s Agriculture Ministry is warning travelers arriving from overseas ahead of Sukkos not to bring daled minim into the country without the required authorization, saying foreign plant material could introduce pests and diseases capable of causing serious damage to Israeli agriculture.

The warning comes as travelers arrive in Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tov, with some bringing their own lulavim, hadassim, aravos and esrogim from abroad.

Under Israel’s Plant Protection Law, plant products generally cannot be brought into the country without approval from the Agriculture Ministry’s Plant Protection and Inspection Services.

There is one significant exception for travelers bringing daled minim for personal use: a single esrog may be brought into Israel without special authorization. A lulav, hadassim and aravos, however, require approval. Those brought into the country without the necessary authorization may be confiscated by inspectors.

Agriculture officials explained that insects, pests and plant diseases can be carried on branches, leaves and other plant material without being readily visible. Once introduced into Israel, such pests could potentially spread to agricultural crops, trees and other vegetation.

“Every inspection at the border, every confiscated set, and every pest stopped at the gate are part of a security system aimed at preventing irreversible damage to local crops and the agricultural export industry,” said Shlomit Zioni, director of the Plant Protection and Inspection Services.

The ministry said that since the beginning of 2026, more than 1,200 passengers arriving at Ben Gurion Airport have been found carrying plant material that is prohibited from entering the country.

Authorities have confiscated and destroyed approximately three tons of agricultural products during that period, including fruits, vegetables, seeds and portions of trees.

With large numbers of Yidden expected to arrive in Eretz Yisroel ahead of Sukkos, officials have also put an arrangement in place to prevent travelers from being left without daled minim for Yom Tov.

Inspectors at Ben Gurion Airport will provide a free set of Israeli-grown daled minim for personal use to travelers whose unauthorized sets are confiscated.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli man who admitted carrying out intelligence assignments on behalf of an Iranian operative, including photographing the home of then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, was sentenced Tuesday to four and a half years behind bars.

The Haifa Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence to Pars Abu al-Hij’a, 32, an Arab Israeli from Jisr az-Zarqa, after his conviction on charges stemming from his communications with a foreign intelligence agent.

Investigators said Abu al-Hij’a was initially tasked by Iranian intelligence contacts with taking photographs of busy public areas. He was subsequently directed to photograph Gallant’s residence as part of his assignments. Authorities said he was paid approximately $3,000 in total for the various missions.

Abu al-Hij’a was taken into custody earlier this year while allegedly in the midst of carrying out another intelligence-gathering assignment. During questioning by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, he acknowledged that he had been in contact with the foreign operative.

The sentencing comes as Israeli security authorities continue to uncover additional cases involving citizens and residents allegedly recruited by hostile foreign entities.

In a separate case announced by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, prosecutors filed an indictment late last week against Sultan Abu al-Hij’a, 31, a resident of the Arab city of Tamra. Authorities allege that he sought to establish clandestine ties with both Hamas’s military wing and Iranian intelligence operatives in an effort to provide them with assistance.

Israeli authorities have also disclosed another investigation involving a 32-year-old Arab resident of Majd al-Krum. The man was arrested on suspicion that he maintained contact for several months with a foreign operative from Lebanon and performed security-related assignments at her direction in exchange for promised payments.

The investigations are part of a broader series of alleged Iranian espionage cases uncovered in Israel. Last month, prosecutors filed a serious indictment against Ashkelon residents Tamerlan Amshukov and Alina Kushnirenko, accusing the pair of conducting espionage activities on behalf of Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sharply rebuked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, accusing him of supporting Hamas and inciting against New York Jews, while vowing to respond to the mayor’s latest attacks when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly this week.

“Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani,” Netanyahu said. “Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews.”

Netanyahu said his response would not end there, indicating that he plans to directly address Mamdani and the broader criticism of Israel during his appearance before the UN General Assembly.

“I’m coming to the UN. I’m going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I’m going to tell the truth about you,” he said.

ממדאני – אני בא לאו״ם כדי להילחם על האמת של החיילים הגיבורים שלנו – וכדי לחשוף את האמת עליך! pic.twitter.com/141PPbSFHm

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 22, 2026

The Prime Minister’s comments came one day after Mamdani again leveled serious accusations against Netanyahu during an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. The mayor reiterated his view that Netanyahu should face accountability over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

“When it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, I have described him as I believe him to be a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the war in Gaza. Netanyahu and Israel have rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction. Neither Israel nor the United States is a member of the ICC.

During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani repeatedly pledged that Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered New York City. Since taking office, however, Mamdani has acknowledged that the city does not independently have the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant. He has instead called upon the federal government to join the ICC and carry out the warrant.

Despite that acknowledgment, Mamdani told Amanpour that he continues to believe the ICC’s warrant should be respected.

“I do believe that that is something that should be honored, because what we want to see, and we’ve been talking about this today, is a faith in our politics, a faith in accountability,” he said.

“If the International Criminal Court deems someone worthy of an arrest because of a violation of those laws, then who are we to say that anyone should be above that? And I think very clearly that everyone should be held accountable to it,” Mamdani added.

As New York hosts world leaders for this week’s UN General Assembly, Mamdani also said he met with The Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen and discussed the importance of adherence to the rule of law.

Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver his address to the General Assembly on Thursday. His appearance is expected to draw multiple demonstrations in New York. Mamdani, who has previously encouraged New Yorkers to protest Netanyahu’s visits, has said that he does not plan to personally participate in the demonstrations surrounding this week’s appearance.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, has signaled that his UN address will include a forceful defense of Israel and the IDF’s conduct during the war against Hamas, as well as a response to critics of Israel, including Mamdani.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued an extraordinary warning to Hamas on Tuesday, declaring that any attempt to abduct another Israeli soldier or civilian would trigger a massive Israeli response in Gaza City, including the evacuation of approximately one million residents to the south and the destruction of what remains of the city.

Katz delivered the warning during a memorial ceremony at Har Herzl for Israeli soldiers who fell during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He said Israeli intelligence has detected indications that Hamas may be seeking to carry out new kidnappings and warned that the response to such an attack would be unlike anything Hamas could afford to absorb.

“I hereby warn the terrorist organization and its supporters, from Iran to Erdogan — if a single Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire city of Gaza, with its houses and terror towers, will be evacuated southward with its million residents,” Katz said.

The defense minister was referring not only to Hamas but also to Iran and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has been sharply critical of Israel throughout the Gaza war. Katz framed the warning as part of Israel’s broader effort to deter Hamas and other hostile forces from attempting another large-scale kidnapping operation.

According to Israeli reports, IDF soldiers operating in Gaza have recently been instructed to exercise heightened vigilance amid concerns that Hamas could seek to kidnap troops in retaliation for a series of targeted Israeli strikes against senior members of the terror organization. The specific intelligence underlying those concerns has not been publicly disclosed.

Katz indicated that Israel would respond to any such kidnapping by again using the type of large-scale military tactics employed during the Gaza war, when residents were ordered out of combat zones before Israeli forces moved in against Hamas positions.

The threat comes as Israel continues to control roughly 60 percent of the Gaza Strip and maintains forces along the so-called Yellow Line separating Israeli-held territory from areas under Hamas control. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said earlier this month that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the territory it currently holds.

Katz also reiterated Tuesday that Israel would not carry out further withdrawals from its current positions in Gaza unless Hamas is completely disarmed. He rejected the prospect of incremental Israeli pullbacks while Hamas retains weapons and an organized military presence.

The warning follows repeated statements from Katz in recent weeks that Israel is prepared to resume a major military campaign if Hamas does not disarm. Last week, he said the IDF was prepared, upon receiving orders, to “finish the job” against Hamas and move forward with plans intended to facilitate Palestinian emigration from Gaza.

Katz has said Israel views the disarmament of Hamas as a fundamental condition for any lasting arrangement in Gaza. He has also maintained that the October 2025 ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump had enormous value for Israel because it facilitated the return of the remaining hostages and included a commitment to the goal of disarming Hamas.

The defense minister’s latest warning comes nearly three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, during which Hamas-led terrorists murdered approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 people into Gaza. The mass hostage-taking became one of the defining elements of the ensuing war and led to numerous hostage-release agreements and IDF rescue operations.