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Candace Owens has sparked a fierce online debate after releasing what she says is previously unseen security footage from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, claiming the video raises major questions about the official account of the killing and whether the man charged in the case was actually the gunman.

The 37-year-old conservative commentator, who is currently being sued by France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron over Owens’ claim that she was born a man, unveiled the footage Tuesday on her self-titled podcast. The release immediately fueled renewed speculation among conspiracy theorists, with Owens arguing that Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of murdering Kirk, was not the one who fired the fatal shot.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2082738424671240495

According to Owens, the footage was provided to her by a government source and captures activity on the roof of Utah Valley University’s Losee Center during the final one minute and 20 seconds before Kirk was shot on Sept. 10, 2025.

The video allegedly shows a figure dressed entirely in black racing across the roof of the Losee Center before reaching a position overlooking the area where Kirk was speaking.

As the individual nears the roof’s edge, Owens says the person performs what she described as a “lateral crawl,” suggesting it resembles a military tactic in which the individual shifts from side to side while advancing toward the corner of the building.

The figure then lies flat and crawls on their stomach to the edge of the roof—approximately 160 yards from Kirk’s location during his “American Comeback Tour” event—before appearing to look over the side and retrieve something from either a bag or their clothing.

Less than a minute afterward, the individual is seen running across the rooftop toward another section of the Losee Center. Owens contends that this portion of the footage corresponds with previously released video that allegedly captured the suspect escaping by jumping from the building.

Owens also asserted that the footage was presented during Tyler Robinson’s weeklong preliminary hearing in Utah State District Court, held from July 6 through July 10. While court proceedings did include security video evidence, officials have never publicly confirmed the specific footage that jurors or attendees viewed.

Although Owens is the only person claiming the video is authentic, its release has intensified longstanding conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk’s assassination.

Among those embracing Owens’ claims was Alex Jones, who was ordered last year to pay $1.4 billion to the families of Sandy Hook victims after repeatedly making false claims about the 2012 school massacre. Jones argued that the newly released footage disproves the prosecution’s case against Robinson.

“The Official Charlie Kirk assassination story is now 100% dead!” the former InfoWars host declared in an X post with over 4.7 million views.

Jones and other online commentators argued that the footage appears inconsistent with prosecutors’ narrative, claiming the individual never removes a rifle from their pants, does not appear to limp, and is never seen assembling a firearm before the shooting.

Court documents filed against Robinson in September 2025 state that investigators observed him walking with an “unusual gait” characterized by “very little bending in his right leg,” which authorities said was consistent with concealing a rifle inside his pants.

Those original charging documents made no mention of the weapon being assembled on the roof. However, prosecutors later alleged in filings submitted this July that Robinson used a red-and-black screwdriver to assemble a Mauser Model 98 .03-06 bolt-action rifle before carrying out the attack.

During Robinson’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors argued that the evidence overwhelmingly supports moving the case to trial. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to seven criminal counts, including murder, in connection with Kirk’s death.

The case is scheduled to return to court in September.

Owens was once one of Charlie Kirk’s close associates, serving as Communications Director for Turning Point USA from 2017 until 2019. Since then, she has become a vocal critic of the organization and has repeatedly suggested that Turning Point USA played a role in Kirk’s assassination.

Turning Point USA did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Owens’ allegations.

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, attended Robinson’s preliminary hearing in July and has previously urged Owens to stop promoting theories about her husband’s death.

“Stop,” she said in 2025. “That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.”

{Matzav.com}

The Cornell University student who sparked nationwide outrage after saying he was “not interested in working for a Jew” says his parents have thrown him out of their Virginia home, prompting him to launch an online fundraising campaign that has already attracted thousands of dollars from supporters—even as Cornell confirmed he will be returning to campus this fall.

Austin Franco, 19, who drew widespread condemnation after refusing a job interview with New York startup VryfID because its founders are Jewish, announced on X last week that his parents were forcing him to leave their home.

“My parents are kicking me out.”

While Franco says he is no longer welcome in his family’s house, Cornell University indicated it has no plans to expel him. The university confirmed that the rising junior remains enrolled despite the controversy surrounding his antisemitic remarks.

Franco has since created a GiveSendGo fundraising page, which has collected more than $8,000. That campaign comes in addition to another fundraiser that has reportedly raised roughly $25,000 on his behalf.

In his appeal for donations, Franco described his situation and asked supporters for financial assistance.

“I will be kicked out of my home on August 1st. Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated, as would any advice,” the 19-year-old wrote.

“I have reiterated that my parents do not share my views, and it seems they no longer wish to provide me with a home to live in. I know the road ahead will be difficult, but this is the path I chose.”

Franco also insisted he has no regrets over the positions he has taken, portraying himself as someone standing by his convictions despite the consequences.

“I do not regret anything I have done. If I were to die today, I would at least know that I did so believing in myself. Thank you, and may God be with you.”

The reported eviction comes despite Franco having grown up in a comfortable home. His family resides in a 6,300-square-foot house in a Virginia suburb about 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The property features five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. His mother, Diana Franco, had previously shared family photos on Instagram—including pictures from Austin’s 18th birthday trip to Paris—before making her account private.

Franco’s father, Alexander, is a patent attorney and Cornell graduate, while his mother works as a senior product manager for a banking regulators’ trade association.

In a statement, Franco’s parents distanced themselves from their son’s views, saying they believe he has been influenced by extremist material online and stressing that the rest of the family strongly rejects his beliefs.

“We have seen our adult son fall under the influence of extremist online content. It should go without saying that the rest of our family finds the views he has expressed morally repugnant, and he did not derive them in any way from us,” they wrote.

“We love our son very much and are doing everything we can to counter the online influences that have afflicted him.”

Speaking afterward, Franco disputed his parents’ explanation, insisting his beliefs were shaped by personal experiences rather than internet content.

“I can’t peer inside their minds and they can’t peer inside mine, but it’s not a result of just being online. I’ve had in-person experiences as well,” he said.

He argued that blaming the internet for his opinions is no different than criticizing someone for reading a newspaper.

“All the internet is, is essentially an extension of prior means of communication, what used to be the printing press.

“It’s like if my parents … were like, ‘Oh boy, he’s always reading the newspaper, he’s getting all these terrible ideas from the newspaper.’ When you say that, it sounds completely ridiculous, right?”

Asked how he felt about being forced to leave home, Franco offered only a brief response.

“I’m not sure if I have a good answer for that.”

He said he plans to move into an apartment near Cornell’s campus in Ithaca.

The controversy began after Franco sent an antisemitic message through the Handshake employment platform to the Jewish co-founders of VryfID, Gabe and Aiden Einhorn, explaining that he would not interview because he did not want to work for Jewish employers. Since then, he has continued publicly defending his views.

Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist and author who has written extensively on terrorism, said Franco reflects a broader trend in which antisemitism is increasingly being worn as a badge of honor by some extremists.

“Anti-semitism has not only become mainstream, it’s become something to be proud of for some,” she said. “People like Austin Franco see themselves as martyrs for the cause.”

Franco, however, maintained that he has done nothing wrong and argued that his comments fall within his right to free expression.

“People may say things that are unkind, but they have the right to say it,” he said. “It would be illegal for an employer to say, ‘I’m not going to hire you because you are white.’ It would not be illegal for an employee to say, ‘I’m not going to work for you because you’re white.’”

Earlier this week, Franco appeared on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” where Morgan sharply criticized him during a contentious interview, calling him “thick” and “arrogant.”

Reflecting on the exchange, Franco claimed Morgan’s reaction demonstrated that the broadcaster believed he was losing the debate.

“That indicated to me that he realized I was making him look bad,” Franco said.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff publicly condemned Franco’s remarks while emphasizing that the university remains committed to protecting free speech, even when the views expressed are offensive.

“As a university built on the solid foundations of our nation’s democratic freedoms, Cornell has an obligation to fiercely defend freedom of speech — even when we find that speech abhorrent,” he wrote.

Despite the backlash, Franco said he has no concerns about returning to Cornell. Although he hopes to pursue a career in politics after graduation, he said he does not identify with any particular political party.

“If you don’t want to talk with me or engage with me, you’re totally welcome and within your rights to do that, just as I have the freedom to associate with who I want to with respect to work,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

24Six, the popular kosher Jewish music streaming platform, will raise its subscription prices for the first time since its launch nearly four years ago, citing sharply higher operating expenses, growing infrastructure costs, and its continued commitment to paying royalties to frum artists, Matzav.com has learned.

The company said the new pricing will take effect beginning Sept. 1, 2026, marking the first increase since 24Six debuted on Motzoei Shabbos, Nov. 19, 2022.

The company reflected on its growth over the past three-and-a-half years, saying what began as a simple effort to provide Klal Yisroel with a safe, beautiful, and kosher music streaming experience has expanded far beyond its original vision.

According to 24Six, the platform is now used daily by tens of thousands of families across smartphones, vehicles, and its lineup of proprietary listening devices designed specifically for kosher use. The company also revealed that users have collectively streamed nearly three billion songs since the service launched.

Throughout that period, 24Six said it has continued investing in the platform by introducing new features, expanding filtering and parental control options, improving its hardware devices, and working closely with Rabbonim and community leaders to ensure the service remains appropriate for every member of Klal Yisroel.

The company emphasized that it deliberately chose not to raise subscription prices during its first three-and-a-half years despite increasing expenses, describing that decision as part of its responsibility to subscribers.

However, 24Six said the financial realities of operating a streaming platform have changed significantly. The company pointed to dramatic increases in storage, memory, and server costs, driven both by industry-wide price hikes and the continued expansion of its music library and growing number of listeners.

The company also highlighted its commitment to supporting Jewish musicians, noting that it has already paid millions of dollars in royalties to frum artists whose music is available on the platform.

“As we continue building, curating, and supporting the artists and families who make 24Six what it is,” the company wrote, “we are updating our subscription prices for the first time.”

Beginning Sept. 1, the new subscription rates will be:

• Single: $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually
• Duo: $17.99 per month or $179.99 annually
• Family: $23.99 per month or $239.99 annually

The company said the updated pricing will take effect at the beginning of each subscriber’s next billing cycle on or after Sept. 1. Customers on annual plans will continue paying their current rate until their next yearly renewal.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI announced that it has dismantled four of what it described as the world’s largest online scam compounds during a sweeping international campaign known as Operation Blackout, recovering more than $15 billion in assets, rescuing thousands of trafficking victims, and preventing thousands of Americans from losing their life savings.

According to the FBI, the targeted scam compounds served as massive hubs for online fraud operations. Many of the people forced to work in these centers were victims of human trafficking who had been held against their will. The bureau said Operation Blackout liberated thousands of these workers and also prevented approximately 10,000 Americans from falling victim to devastating financial scams. The agency did not specify exactly when those rescues occurred.

The FBI also said the operation led to the creation of new international partnerships designed to combat transnational fraud networks and human trafficking organizations.

FBI Director Kash Patel previously disclosed that the $15.2 billion seizure resulted from a 16-month investigation. In a July 21 post on X, Patel said dozens of scam compounds were dismantled, hundreds of suspects were arrested, and multiple human trafficking operations were shut down. He highlighted four major operations that made up the broader campaign.

One of the largest actions, Operation Zephyr Exodus, targeted Cambodia’s Prince Group, which authorities identified as a transnational criminal organization. Investigators seized a record 127,000 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $15 billion at the time.

Another phase of the operation, known as Operation Sand Dollar, was carried out in Dubai in coordination with China’s Ministry of Public Security and Dubai Police. Officials said the operation dismantled nine scam compounds, arrested more than 300 suspects, confiscated roughly $300 million, seized thousands of electronic devices, and freed thousands of trafficking victims.

Under Operation Compound Fracture, investigators shut down websites and malicious mobile applications allegedly used to facilitate scam operations.

Meanwhile, the Shunda Compound Takedown was conducted jointly by the FBI and Thai law enforcement, disrupting a criminal network believed to be responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses suffered by victims.

Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and organizations connected to the Prince Group, including a Cambodian conglomerate accused of laundering proceeds generated by international scam operations.

Federal officials estimate that Americans lost at least $10 billion to scam networks operating from Southeast Asia during 2024, representing a 66 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report paints an even broader picture of the growing threat. According to the report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than one million complaints last year, with reported losses exceeding $20.87 billion—a 26 percent increase over the prior year.

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also warned about the widespread trafficking tied to these scam compounds.

According to a July 28 IOM statement, victims are frequently recruited through fraudulent job advertisements promising legitimate employment overseas. After arriving, many have their identification documents confiscated, are confined inside heavily guarded compounds, and are forced to carry out online fraud under threats of violence. Survivors have reported enduring sexual abuse, solitary confinement, starvation, and torture.

“People trapped in scam compounds are victims of trafficking, forced to commit crimes through violence, threats and coercion. They deserve protection, not punishment,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said in the statement.

“We must work together to support survivors, stop traffickers and close the gaps these criminal networks exploit. No country can tackle this alone,” Pope said.

Between 2022 and 2025, the IOM assisted more than 3,500 trafficking victims who had been forced into criminal activity across Southeast Asia. Those rescued came from 39 countries, with many originating from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, efforts continue in Washington to strengthen the government’s response to these criminal enterprises.

Last September, lawmakers introduced the Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization (SCAM) Act, legislation intended to crack down on foreign scam operations and hold international criminal organizations accountable for human trafficking, forced criminal activity, and cyber fraud targeting Americans.

Although the Senate approved the legislation in December and forwarded it to the House of Representatives, the bill has seen little movement since then.

{Matzav.com}

Half a century after the daring Entebbe hostage rescue captivated the world, Uganda has unveiled a statue honoring Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at the old Entebbe Airport terminal, the site where the Israeli commander was killed while leading the elite IDF mission that rescued dozens of hostages in 1976.

Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, praised Netanyahu’s leadership and sacrifice during the historic operation.

“It is a great honor and privilege to join you at this historic site as we unveil this monument to Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan ‘Yoni’ Netanyahu, the courageous commander of the Israeli rescue force whose leadership and ultimate sacrifice during the Entebbe raid of July 4, 1976, has become an enduring symbol of courage, duty and selfless service,” Kainerugaba said, according to the Kampala Post.

During his remarks, Kainerugaba also paid tribute to those who were murdered during the hostage crisis, naming Jean-Jacques Maimoni, Pasco Cohen, Ida Borochovitch, and Dora Bloch.

“As we gather here, we also respectfully remember the innocent hostages who lost their lives during those tragic events,” he said. “Their memory remains an important part of this solemn history.”

The Ugandan general also emphasized the close relationship that has developed between Jerusalem and Kampala in the decades since the raid.

“The friendship between Uganda and Israel extends well beyond the events of 1976. Our two countries have enjoyed good relations for a long time now, founded on mutual respect and practical cooperation,” he added.

The monument fulfills a pledge Kainerugaba made earlier this year, when he announced plans to erect a statue of Yoni Netanyahu “at the exact spot” where the Israeli commander fell during the operation. In a post on X that was later deleted, the general said he believed the project had been inspired by divine guidance.

“For the last 4 years, My God Jesus Christ has appeared to me in dreams and visions. He told me to build a monument to Yoni Netanyahu in Entebbe. And not to fear the world. He is stronger than the world!” the since-deleted post declared.

The Entebbe crisis began after an Air France flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris with 246 passengers aboard was hijacked following a stop in Athens. Terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, joined by members of Germany’s Revolutionary Cells, diverted the aircraft to Uganda, where dictator Idi Amin welcomed the hijackers and allowed them to operate freely while they demanded $5 million and the release of 53 pro-Palestinian terrorists.

Once the plane arrived in Uganda, the terrorists separated the Israeli and Jewish passengers from the remaining hostages. Most of the non-Jewish captives were released over the following two days, while the Israelis and Jews remained imprisoned.

One week later, Israeli commandos launched one of the most celebrated hostage rescue missions in military history. Four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft flew thousands of miles to Entebbe, where elite forces stormed the airport and rescued the hostages in a lightning-fast operation that was completed within hours.

The mission came at a heavy cost. Four hostages lost their lives during the ordeal, and Yoni Netanyahu—the older brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the commander of the rescue force—was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation.

{Matzav.com}

Former Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled several proposals that would dramatically reshape the federal government during a speech Friday, signaling a significant shift to the left as speculation continues to mount over a possible 2028 presidential campaign.

Speaking at the National Urban League Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Harris acknowledged that her comments would likely generate controversy before outlining several constitutional and institutional changes she believes deserve renewed debate.

“I know this is going to be controversial coming from me, in particular,” Harris said.

Among the proposals Harris called for were eliminating the Electoral College, expanding the U.S. Supreme Court to 13 justices, and revisiting statehood for both Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

“We need to revisit the Electoral College. We need to revisit the point of expanding the court, to 13 justices like we have 13 district courts. We need to revisit, if they so want, statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C.,” the former vice president argued.

Harris did not advocate abolishing the Electoral College during her unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, when she ultimately lost both the Electoral College and the nationwide popular vote to President Donald Trump. Eliminating the Electoral College is a longstanding goal of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Likewise, Harris stopped short of endorsing Supreme Court expansion during the 2024 race. At the time, she instead supported imposing term limits on justices and establishing a binding code of ethics for the Court.

During that campaign, Harris backed statehood for Washington, D.C., but did not publicly support making Puerto Rico a state.

In Friday’s remarks, Harris also called for tougher consequences for judicial nominees who intentionally mislead senators during the confirmation process, suggesting that Congress should adopt procedures allowing nominees who lie under oath to be held in contempt.

The speech comes amid reports that Harris has been holding discussions with some of the Democratic Party’s most progressive figures as she weighs another run for the White House.

According to Axios, Harris reached out to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in June to discuss the future direction of the Democratic Party and to arrange a more extensive conversation.

The report also said Harris met in April with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Chicago, another leading voice on the party’s progressive wing.

Despite leaving office after the 2024 election, Harris remains the early favorite for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, she holds a double-digit lead over California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Ocasio-Cortez.

While Harris declined to announce a campaign, she also made clear that she has not ruled one out.

“I am fully, sincerely, focused on these midterms,” she said. “I have not made a decision.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing fresh criticism after releasing four years of long-awaited tax returns through a tightly controlled process that allowed only a select group of news organizations to review the documents, prompting accusations that his pledge of transparency fell far short of the mark.

Although Newsom had promised to make the records public, The California Post reported that only a handful of invited media outlets were permitted to examine the 718 pages of tax filings during a private session in Sacramento. Reporters were reportedly barred from making copies and were instructed to rely solely on handwritten notes.

Newsom, who is facing the possibility of an FBI corruption investigation involving both himself and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, did not attend the Thursday event and was unavailable to answer questions about the records.

Among the outlets invited to review the filings were The New York Times and Politico. Their reporters were permitted only to take notes with pen and paper before publishing their reports Friday morning.

The limited-access release came after sustained pressure from The California Post, which had repeatedly called on the governor to fulfill his promise to disclose his tax returns. The newspaper itself was not invited to review the documents.

Several Republican officials sharply criticized the process.

“If the governor is truly committed to transparency, it makes little sense to pick and choose who that transparency extends to,” US Rep. Kevin Kiley, a former state legislator, told The Post.

“This appears to be another Newsom story where the factual details are very different from the self-proclaimed headline.”

State Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher also questioned the governor’s claims of openness.

“Newsom’s transparency is a lot like his homelessness policy — it leaves a lot to be desired.”

“He talks big about things abut never actually delivers. This is another instance of that — only allowing select people and only pen and paper. This isn’t real transparency. There are still a lot of questions where Gavin’s money comes from.”

Scott Meyers, a Republican candidate for Congress in California’s 30th District, likewise criticized the governor’s handling of the release.

“If you want voters to trust you as a steward of their tax dollars, you should welcome that level of scrutiny.”

According to notes taken by the invited reporters, the filings show that Newsom and his wife paid nearly $200,000 for household staff, claimed deductions involving approximately $45,000 worth of Armani clothing, and earned between $1.7 million and $2 million annually from 2022 through 2024.

The records also indicate that Newsom received $70,000 in book royalties in 2023 and another $75,000 in 2024 from his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry.

For tax year 2021, the couple reported approximately $3.5 million in taxable income, including roughly $1 million generated from the sale of their Marin County home.

According to the Associated Press, Newsom’s overall income remained relatively stable from 2021 through 2024.

The filings show that the governor’s annual salary—roughly $200,000 at the time, later increasing to $246,000—represented only a small share of the family’s earnings. Most of their income reportedly came from winery, restaurant, and hospitality investments that were placed into a blind trust after Newsom assumed office. The returns do not specify which individual businesses produced profits or losses.

The tax records also reveal that Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s production company, Girls Club Entertainment, continued to lose money. According to The New York Times, the company posted a loss of roughly $37,000 in 2022 while generating only about $11,700 in income for Siebel Newsom. At the same time, she reportedly received annual compensation exceeding $150,000 from her nonprofit organization, The Representation Project.

In 2022, the Newsoms donated Armani business attire originally purchased for approximately $45,000 to an Oakland restorative justice nonprofit. Their tax filings estimated the clothing’s charitable value at about $4,900, according to The New York Times.

The returns further show that the couple contributed between $40,000 and $67,000 to charitable organizations each year during the four-year period.

According to The New York Times, the Newsoms paid nearly $2.8 million in federal income taxes and approximately $500,000 in California state income taxes during the years covered by the filings.

Newsom has long advocated for public disclosure of elected officials’ finances. During his successful 2018 campaign for governor, he released tax returns dating back to 2011. After taking office, he signed legislation in 2019 requiring gubernatorial candidates to disclose five years of federal tax returns before appearing on California’s primary ballot, while also promising to continue releasing his own returns annually.

Despite that pledge, no tax returns covering years after 2020 had been publicly released until Friday.

Earlier this month, when asked by The California Post why the more recent returns had not been released, Newsom expressed surprise.

“I know you love taxes,” the governor joked before pivoting to criticize President Donald Trump.

When reminded that he had frequently contrasted his financial transparency with Trump’s, Newsom insisted he had released his taxes “for decades.”

“And you will have all those new tax returns, because — I have no reason why you haven’t gotten them already,” he said.

Earlier in July, Newsom’s office told The California Post that the returns would be released before the end of the month, and spokesman Izzy Gardon confirmed Thursday that they would become public Friday. The newspaper said it was never informed that other media organizations had already reviewed the filings.

The governor’s office did not release the couple’s 2025 tax return, explaining that they had filed for an extension and expect to complete that filing in October.

Throughout the controversy, Newsom’s office has maintained that the records contain nothing out of the ordinary.

“They’re unremarkable and entirely consistent with what Californians already know from his annual Form 700 disclosures,” spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo previously told The Post.

“The governor publicly released his tax returns while he was on the ballot and is happy to go above and beyond by releasing the remaining years as well.”

Interest in the tax filings intensified after Newsom disclosed last month that he and his wife are subjects of a federal investigation, which the governor has characterized as politically motivated.

A source previously told The California Post that one aspect of the federal inquiry focuses on Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s tax filings.

Separately, federal investigators pursued charges against Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to the FBI. Williamson is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17.

Newsom has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of using the Justice Department as a political weapon against someone widely viewed as a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was unexpectedly passed over as a speaker during the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad on Friday, despite arriving with prepared remarks and apparently expecting to deliver a eulogy, according to multiple sources familiar with the service.

Witnesses said Mamdani, who was seated in the fourth row at the Ozone Park church, appeared to review his planned remarks on an iPad as Gov. Kathy Hochul and other dignitaries—including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards—were invited to address mourners.

“They kept calling names and then he was never called,” one attendee said.

“Then he looked over at his staff, frustrated and seemed angry that he didn’t speak. When he realized his name wasn’t being called, he looked at his staff angrily and then eventually put his tablet away.”

City Hall did not respond to requests for comment regarding why the mayor was omitted from the program.

The incident comes as Mamdani remains one of the country’s most polarizing political figures, drawing criticism over his democratic socialist platform, his outspoken positions on Israel, and his opposition to the U.S. military campaign against Iran.

One source involved in organizing the funeral said Rampersad’s family, who are supporters of President Donald Trump, did not want the mayor to speak during the service.

Another person familiar with the planning said Mamdani’s political views ultimately led to the decision to exclude him from what is traditionally a role afforded to the city’s mayor during the funeral of a hometown service member.

“The family is more conservative and wanted to limit any political distractions,” the insider said.

Rampersad, 28, was one of three American soldiers killed on July 17 during an Iranian missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Raised in Ozone Park, she graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before following her uncle’s path into military service.

It remains unclear whether Mamdani met privately with Rampersad’s family after her death, as New York City mayors have often done in similar circumstances. No such visit appeared on his public schedule or on his social media accounts before Friday’s funeral.

Instead, critics pointed to a week filled with public appearances, including a housing-related event aboard a double-decker bus and interviews with national media outlets intended to raise his national profile.

The mayor has also faced criticism in recent days for focusing attention on his proposal for city-run grocery stores while opponents accused him of failing to adequately address pressing local issues, including a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that claimed seven lives.

Although he never addressed the mourners in person, Mamdani’s communications staff released the speech he had prepared, labeling it “remarks as prepared.”

“It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today,’” Mamdani planned to say. “Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.”

Hundreds of relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow soldiers, and members of the community gathered at Calvary Assembly of God to pay their final respects. As some wiped away tears, the church echoed with Sgt. Rampersad’s favorite gospel hymns.

“She could talk to people in her rank, above her rank, and they would accept it since it was the way she did it,” Daisy Davis-Credle, president of the Queens Sunday School Association, said after the funeral.

“It’s not what you do, it’s how you do what you do. And she knew how to do that — they listened to her.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed those assembled, followed by Ozone Park Residents Block Association President Sam Esposito, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

“I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,” said Hochul.

Seated near freshman City Councilman Frank Morano of Staten Island, Mamdani remained silent after it became clear that his name would not be called.

“I was surprised the mayor didn’t speak,” said Morano, who is far from a Mamdani ally. “I didn’t understand why they would have lower-level officials speak and not the mayor.”

Following the service, NYPD officers carried Rampersad’s flag-draped casket from the church to a waiting hearse, which then joined a lengthy police procession that escorted the fallen soldier to her final resting place on Long Island.

Amazon says it has received approximately $600 million in tariff refunds from the federal government following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a series of import duties imposed by President Donald Trump. The company also announced that customers who paid higher prices because of those tariffs will receive refunds where possible.

The disclosure came during Amazon’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday, when Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky publicly confirmed for the first time that the retail giant had participated in the government’s tariff-refund program.

Amazon also distinguished itself from other major retailers by announcing that it intends to pass at least part of those recovered funds directly back to consumers. Other companies have generally indicated they would use any refund money to lower future prices rather than reimburse individual customers.

The refunds stem from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on February 20 in Learning Resources v. Trump, which concluded that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the president to impose the tariffs in question. As a result, the federal government was required to begin reimbursing importers that had paid those duties.

Olsavsky said Amazon’s refund was smaller than some analysts had anticipated because the company increased its inventory before the tariffs took effect and because Amazon is not listed as the importer of record for most products sold through its marketplace.

He also told analysts that the company “largely absorbed these costs rather than pass them on to customers” in the limited situations where the tariffs affected Amazon’s own business.

Amazon said customers whose purchases can be directly linked to specific import charges will automatically receive refunds once those transactions are identified.

For all other products, Olsavsky said the recovered funds will instead be reflected through lower prices across the platform.

The company reported operating income of $27.5 billion during the second quarter, noting that the tariff refunds reduced expenses within its North American operations.

Amazon’s announcement comes several months after consumers filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Seattle accusing the company of delaying its tariff refund claims in an effort to avoid angering President Trump. The case was later consolidated before U.S. District Judge Tana Lin.

The refund process has unfolded amid significant political attention.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting refund applications on April 20 through a newly established claims portal covering roughly $166 billion in tariffs paid by approximately 330,000 importers.

One day later, President Trump said during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box that it would be “brilliant” for companies not to seek refunds, adding that he would remember those that chose to file claims.

Amazon is not alone in pursuing reimbursement. Apple, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, General Motors, and Ford have also sought refunds from the federal government.

Apple disclosed Thursday that the refunds increased its earnings per share by approximately 5% during the most recent quarter.

Although the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, it did not establish the exact procedures for repaying affected companies, leaving implementation to lower courts.

Since then, the U.S. Court of International Trade has directed that importers receive broad reimbursement. However, the Trump administration is appealing portions of that ruling, meaning the timing and scope of future payments could still change.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of Chareidi demonstrators gathered on Shabbos near a café on Agrippas Street in Yerushalayim to protest the establishment’s decision to remain open on Shabbos, while Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman was dining inside.

During the demonstration, police said a female Border Police officer was assaulted, prompting security forces to intervene in an effort to restore order.

According to police, officers from the Lev Habira station, Yassam units, and Border Police personnel responded to the protest. At one stage, several demonstrators attempted to enter the café, but officers prevented them from doing so, removed those involved, and remained at the scene to separate the sides and maintain public order until the protest concluded.

Following the incident, Lieberman defended both his visit and the café’s decision to operate on Shabbos.

“This morning I came to a café in downtown Jerusalem to support the owners and the people whose only ‘sin’ was sitting down to drink coffee on Shabbat morning,” he wrote.

Lieberman went on to criticize what he described as attempts to impose Chareidi standards on the broader public.

“The State of Israel is a Jewish state, but it will not be a haredi coercive state,” he added.

He then launched a sharp attack on bnei yeshiva who do not serve in the military, accusing them of spending their time protesting rather than enlisting.

“Those draft dodgers who show up week after week to shout, threaten, riot, and clash with soldiers and civilians need another place to let their energy out – against Hamas, against Hezbollah, and against the Houthis.”

Lieberman concluded by pledging that if he has the authority to do so, those who avoid military service would be drafted rather than participating in demonstrations.

“On my watch, draft dodgers won’t have time to protest outside cafés or attack soldiers because they’ll be too busy putting on uniforms.”

[Video below.] Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a sharp rebuke of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of promoting antisemitic rhetoric that endangers Jewish residents and warning that his statements could have serious consequences for the city’s Jewish community.

In an interview with Fox News, Herzog said Mamdani rejects the Jewish people’s fundamental right to national self-determination and is fueling a dangerous climate of hostility.

He said that Mamdani doesn’t recognize “the Jewish people’s inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he’s basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he’s risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life.”

Despite his criticism of the mayor, Herzog expressed confidence that New York City would ultimately endure beyond the current political moment.

“I think New York will continue way after Mamdani,” says Herzog. “And I hope he won’t create irreversible damage.”

Turning to relations between Washington and Jerusalem, Herzog praised President Donald Trump’s support for Israel, saying the relationship between the two countries remains exceptionally strong despite occasional disagreements.

Asked about US-Israel relations under US President Donald Trump, Herzog says that Trump “speaks from the heart when he speaks about his love and respect of Israel and his support of Israel.”

Herzog acknowledged that the two allies do not always see eye to eye on every issue, but emphasized that such differences have not diminished Israel’s appreciation for the president.

“We can have divisions over issues or some arguments, but that does not derogate from the enormous respect we have for President Trump,” says Herzog.

He went on to describe the U.S.-Israel alliance in deeply historic and spiritual terms.

“There is biblical and prophetic about the way our nations work together,” Herzog continues.

Herzog also addressed former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan, claiming Khan had planned to visit Israel to discuss the country’s conduct during the war in Gaza but abruptly canceled the trip.

Herzog said that disgraced former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan was supposed to come to Israel to meet him to investigate Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza, but canceled last minute.

“And only in hindsight now we know clearly that it was in order to divert attention from the ….allegations,” says Herzog.

The Israeli president argued that the ICC case against Israel should be abandoned, asserting that Khan’s actions were motivated by personal interests rather than justice.

“The case has to be dropped and the ICC should … not fall into the trap of hate and lies that Karim Khan presented simply to cover for himself,” says Herzog.

WATCH:

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President Donald Trump announced moments ago that the United States was prepared to launch a massive military strike against Iran but has agreed to temporarily hold off after receiving what he described as a request from Tehran and several Middle Eastern nations to allow negotiations to move forward.

In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump declared that the U.S. military was fully prepared to carry out an attack on the Islamic Republic but said he has chosen to delay any operation in hopes that a diplomatic agreement can be reached.

“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” Trump wrote.

According to the president, Iranian officials, along with other countries in the Middle East, appealed to Washington to postpone military action after what he said was an agreement on the framework of a potential deal.

“Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

Trump said the proposed agreement would require Iran to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, and eliminate its nuclear threat.

“This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”

The president said he accepted the request to suspend military action, explaining that he believes doing so could benefit both the international community and the Iranian people, provided a deal is reached quickly.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.”

Trump also asserted that Israel supports the decision to pursue diplomacy rather than immediate military action.

“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment.”

The president concluded his statement with a direct message to all parties involved in the negotiations.

“Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

{Matzav.com}

What was supposed to be the happiest day of his life turned into a desperate fight for survival. Instead of standing beneath the chuppah on Thursday night, a chosson, Meir Pinchas ben Hadassah Esther, a talmid of Yeshivas Oraysa in Yerushalayim, is recovering at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, surrounded not by wedding guests but by friends from the yeshiva who have remained at his bedside.

The chosson was critically injured in a devastating head-on automobile accident in Monroe, New York, where he had traveled to raise funds to help cover the expenses of his upcoming wedding. He spent the past several weeks hospitalized in Westchester, heavily sedated and on a ventilator as doctors fought to save his life.

In recent days, after his condition stabilized sufficiently to permit travel, he was transported from the United States to Eretz Yisroel aboard a special medical flight. Upon arrival, he was admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem, where he is continuing to receive advanced medical treatment.

In a tremendous display of chasdei Shomayim, encouraging news has emerged from the hospital. The chosson has regained consciousness, and his condition continues to show signs of improvement. Nevertheless, physicians and those close to him stress that he still faces a long and difficult road to recovery and remains in urgent need of abundant rachamei Shomayim so that he can once again stand on his own feet and ultimately merit to enter the chuppah.

His friends from Yeshivas Oraysa, who had expected to dance with him at his wedding just days ago, have instead rallied around him in the hospital. They continue to strengthen themselves in tefillah, undertake additional kabbolos tovos, and daven fervently for his complete and speedy recovery.

All are asked to daven for Meir Pinchas ben Hadassah Esther.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump publicly broke with longtime ally Jeanine Pirro today after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympic canoeist accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, insisting the damage was unquestionably caused by vandals.

In a Truth Social post, Trump sharply criticized Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, for abandoning the prosecution.

“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking?” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding “it was a pure case of VANDALISM.”

The president acknowledged there may have been construction issues but maintained they were not responsible for the extensive damage.

“There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!” the president added.

Pirro’s office announced Friday that prosecutors had uncovered new evidence that significantly weakened the case against David “Davey” Hearn.

Hearn had been indicted on July 2 on allegations that he was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the Reflecting Pool with both hands on June 19, shortly after renovations ordered by President Trump had been completed.

Hearn pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied damaging the pool, insisting that “the condition of the Reflecting Pool was the same after I stepped away from the water as it was before I got there.”

According to prosecutors, new information provided by the Interior Department after Hearn’s indictment indicated that the deterioration was not caused by vandalism but instead stemmed from faulty work performed during the renovation.

The government said the damage “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings.”

Hearn was among several individuals arrested in June after portions of the Reflecting Pool’s blue coating peeled away, leaving floating debris in water that had also turned green with algae.

Trump, whose more than $14 million renovation project included resurfacing the Reflecting Pool with what he described as “American flag blue,” has repeatedly rejected the explanation that construction defects were to blame.

In another Truth Social post on Shabbos, the president argued that surveillance footage supports his claim that the damage was deliberate.

“Look for yourselves at the VANDALISM that took place at The Reflecting Pool. The material is being cut with a knife or a box cutter, for all to see!” Trump wrote.

The Justice Department said Friday that it only learned after reviewing additional Interior Department documents that the damage appeared to have resulted from a construction error rather than criminal activity.

Federal officials acknowledged they would not have sought a grand jury indictment against Hearn had those documents been made available before charges were filed.

Despite the Justice Department’s decision, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum continued defending Trump’s position on Shabbos.

“The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool. Some of these acts were even caught on camera,” Burgum wrote in a post on X.

Burgum also said his department had supplied prosecutors with all requested materials.

Burgum wrote that his office “also provided the U.S. Attorney’s office expert and eyewitness testimony to the damage done by vandals and provided every piece of evidence they asked for in the requested time line detailing each area of damage at the pool.”

Following the dismissal, Hearn’s attorney argued that the prosecution should never have been brought and demanded an apology from the federal government.

“The Government’s case against Davey Hearn should never have been brought,” Steven Levin, Hearn’s attorney, said in a statement. “Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American. The government’s approach was ready, shoot, aim. The federal government owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”

Pirro’s office also disclosed Friday that prosecutors had moved to dismiss at least one of the three other misdemeanor cases involving individuals accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s media company has introduced a high-priced subscription service that gives customers advance access to his Truth Social posts before they are released publicly, a move that has already prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for a federal investigation.

Trump Media & Technology Group announced the launch of Truth API, a premium platform that costs $100,000 per month and is geared toward businesses, institutional investors, and financial traders seeking immediate access to posts from Trump and other prominent Truth Social accounts before they appear to the general public.

According to the company, the service is intended for professional users who monitor financial markets and rely on rapid access to information. Trump Media noted that President Trump’s social media posts have, on multiple occasions, influenced trading activity and caused noticeable swings in sectors such as energy and oil.

The new offering has drawn swift criticism from congressional Democrats.

Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine whether providing early access to the president’s posts could improperly benefit paying subscribers and create an unfair advantage in financial markets.

In a letter sent to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the senators argued that the subscription model favors wealthy investors at the expense of the general public.

“It appears to be a scandalous misuse of the president’s office for his personal benefit, which harms everyday investors and the integrity of our markets, while enriching Wall Street and other wealthy stakeholders,” the senators wrote.

The controversy follows several instances in recent months in which President Trump’s public statements—particularly those involving Iran and U.S. energy policy—were followed by significant movements in oil prices and broader financial markets, underscoring the market-moving influence of his public remarks.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are investigating a coordinated cyber campaign aimed at water utilities in at least seven states, with Iran emerging as the leading suspect behind the attacks, according to a report by The New York Times.

While officials say there has been no interruption to public drinking water supplies, the incidents have prompted heightened concern within the U.S. government over attempts to penetrate systems that regulate water quality and chemical treatment.

The investigation began after officials in Minnesota detected a cyber intrusion affecting local water infrastructure. Similar incidents were later reported in other states, including Michigan, expanding the scope of the federal probe. According to The New York Times, the FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency have confirmed that suspicious activity has been identified in at least seven states, although no contamination or disruption of drinking water has been reported.

According to U.S. officials, investigators currently view Iran as the primary suspect. However, they cautioned that the investigation remains in its early stages and that no definitive evidence has yet been uncovered to formally attribute the attacks to Tehran.

The reported cyber campaign has drawn comparisons to Iran’s attempted cyberattack against Israel’s water infrastructure in 2020. In that incident, hackers allegedly sought to manipulate chlorine levels in drinking water by infiltrating the computerized control systems of water pumps. Israeli authorities successfully thwarted the attack before any major damage occurred.

Investigators believe the attackers in the latest incidents attempted to gain control over systems responsible for monitoring water quality and regulating chemical dosing. Officials also suspect they may have tried to activate emergency procedures at multiple facilities. In response, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has urged water utilities nationwide to disconnect sensitive operational control systems from the internet whenever possible to reduce the risk of future attacks.

President Donald Trump, however, questioned whether Iran was actually responsible and downplayed the cyber incidents. Despite his comments, federal officials involved in the investigation continue to regard Iran as the leading suspect, while acknowledging that determining responsibility could take months.

Cybersecurity experts warned that the attacks represent a troubling shift in strategy. Unlike many previous cyber operations that focused primarily on espionage or disrupting computer networks, this campaign appears to have directly targeted critical infrastructure that millions of Americans rely on every day.

Montreal police have launched an investigation after a suspicious overnight fire heavily damaged a kosher restaurant in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, with members of the Jewish community expressing concern that the incident may have been motivated by antisemitism.

The two-alarm fire erupted at approximately 3:15 a.m. Friday at Nöam restaurant on Décarie Boulevard near Vézina Street, according to Service de police de la Ville de Montréal spokesperson Raphael Bergeron.

Although no injuries were reported, the restaurant sustained extensive damage. Bergeron said investigators have preliminary information indicating that an individual was present at the property when the fire began.

Police have obtained surveillance footage from the scene, which investigators are now reviewing as part of the ongoing probe.

Video obtained by CBC News appears to show a man wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants igniting the fire before fleeing the area.

While police have not determined a motive, many in the local Jewish community believe the attack may have specifically targeted the kosher establishment.

“Given the fact that it was a kosher restaurant, I find it hard to believe it wasn’t antisemitism,” said Howard Szalavetz, who owns the building.

Szalavetz said he was awakened by a phone call around 4 a.m. informing him that the property was engulfed in flames.

“I ran here, I was crying because there’s a lot of history in this building,” he said.

The building owner explained that he and his father purchased the property four decades ago, and that he once operated his own real estate business from the location.

Today, the building houses several businesses, including the kosher restaurant, a garage, and a car wash. According to Szalavetz, only the restaurant suffered damage in the fire.

“If my thoughts on the reasons for this are correct, then it’s a very sad state in society if this is what happens to good people, good hardworking people. They run a good business, they are good tenants,” he said.

The incident quickly drew condemnation from elected officials.

In a statement posted TODAY on social media, Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather called for investigators to treat the case as a possible hate crime.

“Absolutely disgusted to see what appears to be an arson attack on Nöam, a local kosher restaurant overnight. This attack on a Jewish [owned] business must be investigated as a hate crime [and] those involved in this criminal act must be caught [and] prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote.

Housefather later visited the damaged restaurant, joined by Elisabeth Prass, the Member of the National Assembly representing D’Arcy-McGee.

Prass said she has dined at the restaurant before and was deeply disturbed by what had occurred.

“I couldn’t believe something like that would happen in our backyard so it was important for me to come here and speak to the owners and see it for myself,” she said.

“I think somebody who is a coward and who has a lot of anger in their heart came last night and set a business on fire what their motivations are we can’t be sure for now, but we can’t deny the fact that it was a kosher restaurant.”

Like Housefather, Prass said she hopes the suspect is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that, if investigators determine the attack was motivated by hatred, it should be treated accordingly.

CDN-NDG Borough Mayor Stéphanie Valenzuela also responded to the incident, emphasizing that violence and intimidation have no place in the community.

“CDN-NDG is home to a strong, diverse and resilient community. Acts of violence and intimidation have no place in our neighbourhoods,” she wrote.

Valenzuela added that borough officials are in contact with law enforcement and will continue closely monitoring the investigation.

The United States is reportedly sending 10 additional aerial refueling aircraft to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, a move that would increase the number of American tanker planes stationed there to 40 as military tensions with Iran continue to intensify.

According to Israel’s Calcalist newspaper, the incoming aircraft will join approximately 30 U.S. refueling planes already positioned at Ben Gurion Airport.

The report, citing the Israel Airports Authority, said the unprecedented military presence has placed heavy strain on airport operations. Officials said the large number of tanker aircraft has contributed to civil flight delays of roughly two hours in recent days, with disruptions expected to increase once the additional planes arrive.

The timing is especially challenging, the report noted, because July and August are traditionally the busiest travel months at Israel’s main international airport.

The buildup comes despite an earlier effort to reduce the military footprint at Ben Gurion. On July 15, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials to cut the number of American refueling aircraft at the airport to 20 by July 21, with the remaining planes to be transferred to Israeli Air Force bases.

U.S. tanker aircraft have been operating from Ben Gurion Airport and other locations throughout Israel since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on Feb. 28.

The latest deployment follows growing reports in the Israeli media that both Washington and Jerusalem are making military preparations amid rapidly escalating tensions with Tehran.

Israeli news outlets reported on Shabbos that Israel’s defense establishment is preparing for the possibility of a major U.S. military strike against Iran. The reports came one day after President Donald Trump warned that the United States would hit Iran “very hard.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced Friday night that it carried out a series of targeted strikes across the Gaza Strip, destroying five Hamas weapons storage sites—including one located beside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah—as part of ongoing operations to eliminate terrorist threats.

According to the IDF, the operation was conducted under the direction of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and targeted facilities where Hamas had stockpiled large quantities of military equipment. The caches reportedly contained Kalashnikov rifles, anti-tank launchers, explosive devices, ammunition, and other weapons intended for future attacks.

The military said one of the targeted weapons depots was situated adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and served as a hideout for Hamas operatives who used the location to conceal arms.

“This is another example of Hamas’ systematic use of and embedding within civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, to plan and carry out terrorist activities,” the IDF noted.

Israeli officials said the weapons stored at the sites were intended for use in attacks against IDF forces operating in the Yellow Line area, as well as Israeli civilians. The military said the strikes were carried out to eliminate that threat before the weapons could be used.

The IDF stressed that measures were taken in advance to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.

“Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance.”

The military added that Israeli forces remain deployed in the area under the terms of the ceasefire agreement and will continue operating against terrorist threats.

“IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in parts of the Middle East to consider leaving the region and advising travelers to think twice before visiting, warning that rising tensions with Iran could quickly lead to airspace closures, flight disruptions, and attacks on American interests.

The advisory was issued through U.S. embassies in Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, cautioning that the regional security situation remains volatile.

“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”

The State Department advised Americans already in the region to remain alert and be ready to leave if conditions deteriorate.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.”

The warning also extended to Americans planning future travel, encouraging them to avoid unnecessary trips to or through the Middle East.

“Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.”

The State Department also cautioned that U.S. diplomatic missions and other American interests could become targets of Iranian retaliation or attacks by Tehran’s allies.

“US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including US businesses and other institutions.”

Officials emphasized that Iran’s recent actions have demonstrated the regime’s willingness to strike without warning and to expand its operations into areas previously untouched by the conflict.

“The situation in the Middle East remains fluid. The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt). Americans should remain vigilant, as merely because US interests or businesses have not been attacked in a country in the past does not ensure their safety.”

Meanwhile, an Israeli source told Channel 12 that the region has reached a critical moment, with officials believing that “we are very close to the point of decision.” Although the White House has not yet made a final determination, the source said the possibility of a large-scale U.S. military operation against Iran is now under more serious consideration than at any previous point.

According to Israeli assessments, President Donald Trump is still evaluating both the scope of any potential military action and the manner in which it would be carried out. Officials remain uncertain whether Israel would participate from the beginning or whether the United States would initially act alone using American forces.

The source added that Trump has been presented with a proposal calling for precision strikes against key elements of Iran’s energy infrastructure. Israeli officials reportedly believe such an operation could place significant internal pressure on the Iranian regime while minimizing the impact on global energy markets.

{Matzav.com}