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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Hamas can no longer continue to exist as an armed element that threatens the peace and security not just of Israel, but of the world. And that the people of Gaza deserve a better future, one that cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated.”

PM Netanyahu on the strike on Hamas leaders in Doha: “It didn’t fail because it had one central message, and that is: You can hide, you can run, but we’ll get you. And this is important. If terrorists think they can enjoy immunity, they will do it again and again. If you deny them that immunity, they will think twice.”

WATCH: More footage shows the moment the Israeli Air Force bombed the Al-Jafari tower in Gaza City.

The IDF says an explosive device was found attached to an army vehicle at a repair shop in Ma’ale Adumim, likely planted during recent operations in Tulkarem, and was safely removed.

The IDF says an airstrike destroyed the Ghefari Tower on Gaza City’s coast after issuing an evacuation warning, stating that the building was being used by Hamas.

The IDF says a drone strike in southern Lebanon last night killed Hezbollah operative Muhammad Ali Yassin, who was involved in the group’s weapons production, with Lebanon’s health ministry confirming one fatality in the town of Burj Qalaouiyah near Nabatieh.

President Trump says the trade deal with China went VERY WELL, and he will be speaking with President Xi this Friday.

BREAKING: FBI Director Kash Patel just confirmed that the DNA from the towel that was wrapped around the Charlie Kirk assassin’s firearm, and the DNA on a screwdriver, are positively processed for Tyler Robinson.

DNA evidence collected at the sniper’s perch where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down has been matched to the alleged shooter, FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday, providing the clearest forensic link yet to the suspect in custody. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Patel said investigators recovered Robinson’s DNA on a towel used to conceal the firearm after the attack and on a screwdriver left in the rooftop hideout where the assassin staged the shooting. “I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA from the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel said, identifying the match as Tyler Robinson, 22. Additional DNA samples lifted from the bolt-action hunting rifle believed to have been used in the September 10 attack are still being analyzed. Investigators also uncovered a written note attributed to Robinson in which he allegedly declared that he had an “opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk” and intended to seize it. Patel said Robinson’s family told investigators he had embraced left-wing ideology in recent years, and agents are reviewing text messages exchanged between Robinson and another individual that could shed light on his motives. “He claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do it because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for,” Patel said. Robinson, who was arrested within 33 hours of the assassination at Utah Valley University, has not cooperated with investigators, Patel added. He praised the FBI’s swift response, contrasting the case with longer manhunts in past domestic terror investigations. “If you look at historical cases like [Luigi] Mangione and the Boston [Marathon] bombing, those two manhunts took five days,” Patel said. “We apprehended our suspect in 33 hours because we were transparent and open.” Robinson is being held under special watch in a Utah jail as prosecutors prepare charges. The FBI continues to probe potential accomplices and outside influences, including the possibility that Robinson communicated with others in the lead-up to the attack. Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during a public speaking event in Orem, Utah. His killing has drawn condemnation across the political spectrum and intensified debates over political violence in the United States. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court has overturned the criminal conviction of Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein in an environmental pollution case.

Instead of a criminal record, Judge Shmuel Herbst ruled that Rubinstein must complete 420 hours of community service and pay a fine of 36,000 shekels. The municipality itself was also ordered to pay a penalty of 200,000 shekels.

The charges stemmed from incidents beginning in 2011, when city sewage stations malfunctioned, causing raw sewage to spill into agricultural land and streams. Despite repeated warnings from the Environmental Protection Ministry, the pollution persisted for nearly four years.

In his ruling, Judge Herbst stated: “The defendant did not commit the offenses for his personal benefit but acted in a manner he believed was in line with his responsibility to the city’s residents.”

He noted that the issue was eventually resolved with the aid of 30 million shekels in government funding to upgrade the infrastructure.

The Environmental Protection Ministry opposed the cancellation of the conviction, arguing that serious environmental crimes must not be treated lightly and that a criminal conviction is vital for transparency with the public.

Meanwhile, the Haifa District Court sentenced a 27-year-old resident of Beit Jann to 28 months in prison for attacking Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors on Mount Meron in 2020.

The man admitted to throwing stones at inspectors who arrived to post demolition orders during enforcement against illegal construction. Protesters also set fire to the inspectors’ vehicle, forcing them to flee for safety.

Two inspectors injured in the attack were reassigned to office work due to trauma. One said the incident was more difficult for him than what he had experienced as a reserve soldier during the “Iron Swords” war.

The defendant expressed remorse, admitted his actions, and attempted to reach out to the inspectors to apologize. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay 100,000 shekels in compensation to the two victims.

Shai Peretz, chief prosecutor for the Nature and Parks Authority, welcomed the ruling, saying: “The verdict is a clear statement against any attempt to harm Nature and Parks Authority employees who are carrying out their mission in the field.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to withhold federal funding from New York following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in the city’s mayoral race. “Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed [sic] the ‘Liddle Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York,” Trump wrote on his social media platform early Monday. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!” Hochul’s endorsement represents a significant shift for the governor, who had kept her distance from Mamdani’s candidacy for months. “In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” Hochul wrote. “But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.” The governor’s move gives a boost to Mamdani, a democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens who won the Democratic nomination in June but has so far struggled to win backing from the state’s political establishment. Top Democratic leaders — including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — have yet to endorse Mamdani. It remains unclear whether Hochul’s decision will pressure them to fall in line. Trump’s remarks mark his second intervention in the New York mayoral race in less than a week. On Friday, the president told Fox & Friends that Mamdani appeared poised to win the four-way contest against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. “I’m not looking at the polls too carefully, but it would look like he’s going to win,” Trump said. “And that’s a rebellion.” Mamdani, 33, has built his campaign around proposals such as taxing the wealthy, expanding affordable housing, and providing free public transit — a platform that has energized progressive voters but drawn criticism from moderates and business leaders. Hochul’s endorsement could unify fractured Democratic support behind him at a pivotal moment in the race. The threat of federal funding cuts introduces a new layer of risk for the state, as New York relies heavily on federal aid for infrastructure, housing, and public safety. The White House did not provide details on what funds could be at risk. The New York mayoral election is set for November 4. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a sign of how unusual this week’s Federal Reserve meeting is, the decision it will make on interest rates — usually the main event — is just one of the key unknowns to be resolved when officials gather Tuesday and Wednesday. For now, it’s not even clear who will be there. The meeting will likely include Lisa Cook, an embattled governor, unless an appeals court or the Supreme Court rules in favor of an effort by President Donald Trump to remove her from office. And it will probably include Stephen Miran, a top White House economic aide whom Trump has nominated to fill an empty seat on the Fed’s board. But those questions may not be resolved until late Monday. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy is mired in uncertainty. Hiring has slowed sharply, while inflation remains stubbornly high. So a key question for the Fed is: Do they worry more about people who are out of work and struggling to find jobs, or do they focus more on the struggles many Americans face in keeping up with rising costs for groceries and other items? The Fed’s mandate from Congress requires it to seek both stable prices and full employment. For now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed policymakers have signaled the Fed is more concerned about weaker hiring, a key reason investors expect the central bank will reduce its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday to about 4.1%. Still, stubbornly high inflation may force them to proceed slowly and limit how many reductions they make. The central bank will also release its quarterly economic projections Wednesday, and economists project they will show that policymakers expect one or two additional cuts this year, plus several more next year. Ellen Meade, an economics professor at Duke University and former senior economist at the Fed, said it’s a stark contrast to the early pandemic, when it was clear the Fed had to rapidly reduce rates to boost the economy. And when inflation surged in 2021 and 2022, it was also a straightforward call for the Fed, which moved quickly to raise borrowing costs to combat higher prices. But now, “it’s a tough time,” Meade said. “It would be a tough time, even if the politics and the whole thing weren’t going on the way they are, it would be a tough time. Some people would want to cut, some people would not want to cut.” Amid all the economic uncertainty, Trump is applying unprecedented political pressure on the Fed, demanding sharply lower rates, seeking to fire Cook, and insulting Powell, whom he has called a “numbskull,” “fool,” and “moron.” Loretta Mester, a former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and finance professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said that Fed officials won’t let the criticisms sway their decisions on policy. Still, the attacks are unfortunate, she said, because they threaten to undermine the Fed’s credibility with the public. “Added to their list of the difficulty of making policy because of how the economy is performing, they also have to contend with the fact that there may be some of the public that’s skeptical about how they’ve gone about making their decisions,” she said. David Andolfatto, an economics professor at the University of Miami and former […]

President Donald Trump on Sunday referred to Qatar as a “great ally” while urging Israel to “be careful” after the recent strike in Doha that was aimed at Hamas leaders.

When asked by reporters what message he wished to convey to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attack in Qatar, Trump said, “They have to be very, very careful. They have to do something about Hamas, but Qatar has been a great ally to the United States. A lot of people don’t know that.”

He went on to say, “I told the Emir, who I think is a wonderful person, actually, I said, ‘You need better public relations because you don’t really get the public relations.’”

Trump emphasized, “People talk of [Qatar] so badly, and they shouldn’t be. Qatar has been a very great ally. So Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful.”

On the day of the strike, Trump acknowledged he was “not thrilled” by the operation, while at the same time pointing to the ongoing importance of working toward the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

That same evening, Netanyahu hinted that Israel’s mission to eliminate Hamas figures in Qatar had not been successful.

In a statement posted in English on X, Netanyahu wrote that those Hamas officials “blocked all ceasefire attempts,” and argued that “getting rid of them” would remove the “main obstacle” to bringing the conflict to an end.

“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” Netanyahu wrote. He continued, “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 announced that Khalil al-Hayya, one of its senior leaders who was the focus of the strike in Doha, had survived the attack.

According to a statement cited by Channel 13 News, Hamas said 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.”

The group did not provide pictures or any other proof to verify its account.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is taking credit for reducing crime in Democratic-led sanctuary cities, insisting that only he can deliver what he called “no crime miracles.”

“The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis is because the FBI, and others in the federal government, at my direction, have been working there for 5 months — on the absolutely terrible crime numbers; likewise, in Chicago and Los Angeles!” Trump posted on Truth Social, pointing to recent federal involvement in the city just a day after he announced on television that “we’re coming” to Memphis next.

“But the real work by us has barely begun. That happens after we make the official announcement that WE’RE COMING, and when we do that, as we did in now VERY SAFE WASHINGTON, D.C., the no crime ‘miracle’ begins.
“ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT”

Trump has pledged to take on violent crime but continues to clash with Democratic leaders in states like Illinois and California. In places such as Tennessee, he faces fewer political obstacles. On the campaign trail, he has repeatedly argued that cities governed by Democrats are plagued with lawlessness.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said that Trump’s televised statement the previous evening was the first time he received clear confirmation that the National Guard would be sent to the city to help fight crime.

Young explained to CNN that he first became aware the deployment was being considered when Republican Governor Bill Lee’s office notified him earlier in the week. He added that discussions continued throughout the following days, including talks about reinforcing law enforcement through federal agencies such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

During a Friday morning television interview, Trump described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and promised, “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” referencing his earlier move to send in the National Guard and expand the federal law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital.

When asked directly if he had “hard confirmation” before Trump’s public declaration, Mayor Young answered: “No, that was the confirmation.”

Memphis police had reported earlier in the week that every major crime category showed declines in the first eight months of 2025 compared to previous years. According to the department, overall crime had dropped to a 25-year low, with murders falling to their lowest point in six years.

Still, the city has long struggled with gun-related violence. In 2023, Memphis experienced a record-setting 390 homicides.

Governor Lee has said details about how the Guard will be integrated into anti-crime efforts are still under discussion. His spokeswoman, Elizabeth Lane Johnson, noted that Lee spoke with Trump on Friday and will continue discussions in the coming week. Lee emphasized that the Guard’s involvement would add to the momentum of an existing FBI-led crackdown that has “already arrested hundreds of the most violent offenders.”

Mayor Young said that questions remain about the number of troops, their duties, and the timeline for their arrival. He expects more clarity in the days ahead.

Young also rejected Trump’s claim that he was “happy” about the National Guard coming in. The mayor said he neither requested the deployment nor believes it will bring down crime. Nonetheless, he conceded that Memphis continues to appear on too many “bad lists” and, since the decision has already been made, he intends to “drive how they engage in our city.”

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel, held a joint press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem after their meeting on Monday. During his remarks, Netanyahu slammed the immense hypocrisy of those condemning Israel for targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, noting the UN resolution banning any country from harboring terrorists that was passed after the 9/11 attacks. “You don’t have such sovereignty when you have given a base for terrorists,” he said. Rubio also addressed the situation in Gaza and the crisis with Qatar, stressing that the Trump administration is focused on the future rather than the past. “We are focused on the role Qatar can play now to bring about the release of the hostages and a better future for the residents of Gaza, as long as Hamas is there and the hostages are there.” Rubio added that Hamas cannot continue to rule over Gaza as an armed organization. “Hamas cannot threaten the security of Israel and the world,” he asserted.       (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s upcoming trip to the United States aboard the Wing of Zion will carry a smaller group than usual, according to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post. The change comes as officials prepare for possible flight path complications tied to international airspace restrictions.

The plane, scheduled to head to New York next week, is expected to take a longer route than originally planned. Officials explained that the adjustment was made after concerns were raised that certain European nations may choose not to authorize overflight.

Because the alternative path demands extra fuel, planners decided to lighten the overall load of the aircraft. That meant reducing both the number of passengers permitted on board and the amount of equipment being carried.

Last week, the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that members of the press, along with some aides, would not be traveling on the plane to the United Nations General Assembly.

“Due to technical arrangements related to seating and security, it has been decided to limit the number of passengers on the upcoming Wing of Zion flight, including journalists and members of the prime minister’s entourage,” the office said in a statement.

Later, officials clarified that the decision was driven primarily by the extended flight path rather than logistical or security concerns alone.

The altered route stems from political tensions surrounding the war in Gaza, along with speculation that states affiliated with the International Criminal Court might block airspace to individuals facing legal proceedings.

{Matzav.com}

Governor Kathy Hochul has now thrown her support behind Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after keeping her distance for nearly two months.

Her endorsement appeared in The New York Times on Sunday, making her the latest senior Democrat to publicly back the 33-year-old nominee. The move adds to the pressure on other party leaders such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who so far have declined to endorse him.

Hochul had initially avoided offering her support after Mamdani’s unexpected primary win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June.

Explaining her decision, Hochul said, “In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements. But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”

She also praised Mamdani’s qualities, noting that he showed “courage, urgency and optimism.”

Hochul added that she had spoken to him about “the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.”

Mamdani has drawn criticism over his anti-Israel positions, including refusing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada” and condemning Israel the day after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Hochul had previously remarked that she told Mamdani he must repair his relationship with the city’s Jewish community.

In a related development, Jeffries said in July that he intends to meet with Mamdani, stressing that the candidate’s refusal to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada” will “be part of our discussion.”

Jeffries further stated that it is important for Mamdani “to reassure” Jewish New Yorkers and others that “he’s going to stand up for their safety and security.”

{Matzav.com}

The only person ever charged in the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland where British soldiers opened fire on unarmed demonstrators went on trial Monday in a Belfast court with a prosecutor calling the shooting unjustified and its impact “long lasting and profound.” The ex-paratrooper, a lance corporal identified only as “Soldier F” and concealed from view in court behind blue floor-to-ceiling curtain to protect him from vengeance, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in what was the deadliest shooting in the three decades of Northern Ireland violence known as “The Troubles.” A total of 13 people were killed and 15 others were injured. “The civilians … did not pose a threat to the soldiers and nor could the soldiers have believed that they did,” prosecutor Louis Mably said in Belfast Crown Court. “The civilians were unarmed and they were simply shot as they ran away.” The Jan. 30, 1972, massacre in Londonderry, also known as Derry, has come to symbolize the long-running conflict between mainly Catholic supporters of a united Ireland and predominantly Protestant forces that wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Tensions have eased since the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, which created a system for Republican and Unionist parties to share power in Northern Ireland. Families of the victims who have campaigned for more than a half century for accountability for the killings marched to the courthouse before the trial carrying photos of the dead and walking behind a banner reading “Towards Justice.” John McKinney called it a momentous day. “It has taken 53 years to get to this point, and we have battled all the odds to get here,” said McKinney, whose brother, William, was killed in the shooting. “Everything that we have achieved to this point has been through relentless commitment and a refusal to lie down,” he said. “We will shortly occupy a courtroom very proudly with our heads held high and in the knowledge that, regardless of the ultimate outcome, that we are on the right side of history.” From instigators to victims The government initially said soldiers from a parachute regiment opened fire at gunmen and bombers who were attacking them. A formal inquiry cleared the troops of responsibility. A subsequent and lengthier review in 2010 reached a much different conclusion, finding that soldiers had fired at unarmed people fleeing and then lied about it for decades. Then-Prime Minister David Cameron apologized and said the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable.” The findings cleared the way for the eventual prosecution of Soldier F, though that, too, has been beset by delays and obstacles. It took seven years from the time police opened their investigation until prosecutors announced in 2019 that they would only charge Soldier F. They said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge 16 other former soldiers and two alleged members of the Official Irish Republican Army who were investigated for their roles in the shootings. Two years later, the Public Prosecution Service dropped the case because they didn’t think they could prevail at trial. They made the decision after a judge tossed out a case against two soldiers in the killing of an Irish Republican Army leader after ruling key prosecution evidence was inadmissible. But family members of one the Bloody Sunday victims appealed and […]

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