American officials say that the assassination of a senior Hamas operative in Gaza is being viewed inside the White House as a breach of the ceasefire agreement brokered by President Trump. They stressed to Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu that Washington will not allow the president’s reputation—or his image as the central force shaping events in the region—to be undermined.
Senior administration figures told reporters that the killing of Raed Saad in Gaza over the weekend triggered sharp displeasure in Washington. According to an N12 report, the rebuke reflects rising tension between the Trump administration and the Israeli government over how the next phase of the Gaza agreement should be implemented, as well as broader disputes over Israel’s policy direction in the region.
Officials noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have all expressed deep frustration with Netanyahu’s decision-making and the way key military and diplomatic moves are being made in Jerusalem. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 29.
One American official described the message delivered to Netanyahu as unusually blunt. He said the prime minister was told that if he wants “to destroy his own reputation and appear as someone who does not honor agreements, that is his decision.” However, Washington made clear that it would not permit any action that could tarnish President Trump, particularly after he succeeded in securing the Gaza deal.
An Israeli official confirmed that the White House was unhappy with the strike but claimed the American message focused primarily on the perception among certain Arab states that the assassination violated the ceasefire terms.
Israel eliminated Raed Saad on Shabbos. Saad served as the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing and was one of the architects of the October 7 attack. According to U.S. officials, Israel did not notify Washington in advance and carried out the strike without prior coordination with the White House.
{Matzav.com}
Federal agents say they stopped what could have become a devastating wave of coordinated explosions across Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve, detaining five individuals tied to a fringe pro-Palestinian movement. According to The NY Post, the group had allegedly been preparing to strike multiple sites throughout the region.
Investigators say the threat was “credible” and connected to members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a radical organization known for its extremist ideology. A law enforcement source said the group had moved from rhetoric to operational planning.
Authorities captured four suspects in Lucerne Valley, deep in the Mojave Desert, where they were allegedly experimenting with homemade explosive devices. The fifth suspect was tracked down and arrested in New Orleans during the sweep.
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the operation in a statement shared publicly, writing, “After an intense investigation, the Department of Justice, working with our @FBI, prevented what would have been a massive and horrific terror plot in the Central District of California (Orange County and Los Angeles).”
Bondi explained the nature of the threat, noting that “The Turtle Island Liberation Front—a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group—was preparing to conduct a series of bombings against multiple targets in California beginning on New Year’s Eve.” She added, “The group also planned to target ICE agents and vehicles.”
Emphasizing the scale of the effort behind the arrests, Bondi said, “This was an incredible effort by our US Attorneys’ Offices and the @FBI to ensure Americans can live in peace. We will continue to pursue these terror groups and bring them to justice.”
{Matzav.com}
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams used the moment of announcing stepped-up protection for Jewish neighborhoods ahead of Chanukah to deliver a stark message about what unfolded on Bondi Beach. He said the horrific murders in Sydney embodied what agitators have been encouraging in the streets for the last two years, describing it as the “actual application of the globalization of the intifada,” a phrase that has become a rallying cry at anti-Israel demonstrations since October 7.
As he addressed the threat environment heading into the yom tov, Adams stressed that what happened in Australia followed a clear and frightening pattern. “That attack in Sydney is exactly what it means to globalize intifada. We saw the actual application of the globalization of intifada in Sydney,” he said, underscoring that such violence emerges from a well-defined ideology. “This attack did not come out of nowhere. It came out as a consequence of Islamic extremists. We have to be clear on that.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch added her own assessment, describing the mass killing in Sydney as “part of a wider assault on Jewish life” and assuring New Yorkers that her department is prepared to counter any danger directed toward the city’s Jews.
Adams—long regarded as a steadfast ally of the Jewish community—will soon leave office, and he has openly voiced anxiety about the direction the city may take under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani has repeatedly declined to criticize the “globalize the intifada” chant and has positioned himself ideologically against Zionism.
Speaking to the New York Post over the weekend, Adams cautioned that “dark days” may be ahead if the incoming mayor does not set firm boundaries. He insisted that leadership requires unmistakable clarity: “There needs to be a clear denouncement of ‘globalize the intifada.’ There needs to be a clear denouncement of people standing in front of a house of worship and calling for harm to a particular group. A mayor must not only lead based on what they say, but what they do. He has to send a very clear message that antisemitism and hate of any faith will not have a place in the city.”
For his part, Mamdani issued a statement describing the attack as a “vile act of antisemitic terror” and promised that his administration would work to “keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.”
{Matzav.com}
A massive outpouring of support has swept across Australia and beyond for Ahmed al Ahmed, as donations for the man credited with stopping one of the Bondi Beach shooters soared past A$1.1 million in just a single day. The 43-year-old, who was struck by gunfire during the attack, is recuperating in the hospital after undergoing surgery for wounds to his arm and hand.
Before he became the focus of international praise, Ahmed was crouched behind parked vehicles, watching chaos unfold. In a split-second decision, he rushed one of the attackers from behind, overpowering him, knocking him to the ground, and wrenching the weapon away.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns shared an image from Ahmed’s hospital room, noting publicly that “There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage.” He added his thanks in a second post: “Thank you, Ahmed.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking to ABC News, described the events as a stark contrast of human behavior. “What we’ve seen in the last 24 hours was the worst of humanity in a terrorist act,” Albanese said. “But we also saw an example of the best of humanity in Ahmed Al Ahmed running towards danger, putting his own life at risk.” President Donald Trump echoed those sentiments from the White House on Sunday, joining the chorus of praise for the Sydney resident.
Albanese confirmed that Ahmed had been shot twice by the second terrorist during the takedown. Family members reported the injuries were to his arm and hand.
Authorities revealed on Monday that the attack on the Hanukkah gathering was carried out by a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son, marking Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, with 15 lives lost.
Speaking to ABC News, Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, described his son’s instinctive response. “My son is a hero. He served in the police, he has the passion to defend people.” He added, “When he saw people lying on the ground and the blood, quickly his conscience pushed him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon.”
Ahmed’s cousin, Jozay Alkanji, said he has already had one operation and that additional procedures may be needed as he continues his recovery.
Expressions of gratitude have flooded in from political leaders at every level. Premier Minns visited St George Hospital, later writing online that “Ahmed is a real-life hero,” accompanied by a photo of him standing beside Ahmed, who rested with his arm in a cast.
President Donald Trump also commented on Ahmed’s heroism, calling him “a very, very brave person” whose actions prevented even greater bloodshed.
A GoFundMe effort established for Ahmed drew extraordinary attention, with more than A$1.1 million contributed within 24 hours. Among the donors was billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who gave A$99,999 and shared the campaign on social media, amplifying global support for the man many now view as a symbol of courage under fire.
{Matzav.com}
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese forcefully rejected criticism from Prime Minister Netanyahu today, dismissing any connection between Canberra’s support for recognizing a Palestinian state and the deadly terror attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney.
Albanese’s remarks came a day after Netanyahu sharply rebuked the Australian government, accusing its policies of fueling a rise in antisemitism. “Their policy pours oil on the antisemitic fire,” Netanyahu said Sunday night.
Speaking Monday to Australian television, Albanese responded unequivocally: he said he “does not accept Netanyahu’s claim linking recognition of a Palestinian state to the attack.”
Rather than address the policy failures that many in Australia say contributed to the tragedy, Albanese argued that the country is confronting a wide range of threats. He said that both “the rise of antisemitism and of the extreme right” represent serious dangers, adding that as prime minister, his responsibility is “to bring the Australian nation together and overcome the forces seeking to divide us and set Australians against each other.”
“This is a time to embrace the Jewish community,” he insisted, “not only those directly affected by the attack — everyone.”
Meanwhile, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited the hospitalized hero who subdued one of the terrorists. Minns met with Ahmad al-Ahmad, the courageous civilian who wrestled a gunman to the ground during the massacre.
“Ahmad is a true hero,” Minns said after the meeting. “Last night, his incredible bravery undoubtedly saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.”
{Matzav.com}