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IDF Strikes Gaza City High-Rise Used by Hamas for Surveillance

Yeshiva World News -

The IDF confirmed striking a high-rise in Gaza City, stating it was used by Hamas. According to the IDF, Hamas had placed surveillance equipment in the building to monitor Israeli troop movements and facilitate attacks. The IDF noted that an evacuation warning was issued to residents in the area prior to the strike.

Netherlands Bars Ben Gvir and Smotrich from Schengen Zone Over ‘Exceptional’ Concerns

Matzav -

The Dutch government declared on Tuesday that Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are now prohibited from entering any of the 29 countries within the Schengen zone.

“The cabinet decided to declare the ministers persona non grata,” the government in The Hague announced, adding that the order has been formally added to the Schengen Information System, according to Haaretz.

This measure requires border officials throughout the Schengen countries to refuse entry to the two ministers.

Still, a source cited by Haaretz noted that individual nations could choose to instruct their border agents to overlook the restriction, creating uncertainty about whether the ban will be uniformly applied.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the move was made under “exceptional circumstances” and stressed that the Netherlands intends to keep pressing for broader coordinated action across the European Union.

The decision comes in the wake of Spain taking similar steps, barring Smotrich and Ben Gvir from its territory. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described his country’s action as retaliation after Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had blocked two Spanish ministers from visiting Israel the day before.

The Netherlands had already signaled its intention to impose restrictions, accusing the two Israeli officials of having “encouraged settler violence against Palestinians.”

Back in June, the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Norway jointly imposed sanctions on Ben Gvir and Smotrich.

Slovenia has also announced that it will not allow the two ministers to enter, becoming the first EU member state to introduce such a ban.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Producer Prices Unexpectedly Dip 0.1% in August

Yeshiva World News -

U.S. producer prices fell unexpectedly last month, dropping 0.1% from July. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index — which captures inflation in the supply chain before it hits consumers — showed that wholesale inflation decelerated in August after advancing 0.7% in July. Wholesale services prices fell 0.2% from July on smaller profit margins at retailers and wholesalers, which might be a sign that those companies are absorbing the cost of President Donald Trump’s sweeping taxes — tariffs — on imports. Compared with a year earlier, producer prices rose 2.6%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core producer prices also fell 0.1% from July and were up 2.8% from a year earlier. The numbers were lower than economists had forecast. Trump’s tariffs were widely expected to send prices higher, but so far their impact has been muted. “The big picture remains that tariff effects are feeding through only slowly,” economist Stephen Brown of Capital Economics wrote in a commentary. “Wholesalers and retailers have been slow to pass on the cost of tariffs,” said Bill Adams chief economist at Comerica Bank. “This could be due to foreign suppliers discounting to maintain market share, to weak demand in the U.S., or to businesses waiting to pass on costs until they have clarity about where tariff rates settle out.” Still, Adams noted that some prices of imported products rose, pointing to a coffee prices — up 6.9% from July and 33.3% from a year earlier. The wholesale price report came out day before the Labor Department releases its consumer price index. The CPI is expected to show that consumer price inflation picked up slightly last month, rising 0.3% from July, an uptick from a 0.2% increase the month before. Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices are expected to have risen 2.9% in August, up from a 2.7% year-over-year increase in July. Wholesale prices can offer an early look at where consumer inflation might be headed. Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably measures of health care and financial services, flow into the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, price index. The drop in producer prices makes it even more likely that the Fed will cut its benchmark interest rate next week for the first time this year. Trump has been pressuring Fed to cut rates, repeatedly saying Fed Chair Powell has waited too long to make the move. “Just out: No inflation!!! ‘Too Late’ must lower the RATE, BIG, right now,” the president posted on social media just after the wholesale inflation report landed Wednesday. ”Powell is a total disaster, who doesn’t have a clue.” There are increasing signs that the economy is weaker than previously thought. On Tuesday, the Labor Department reported that employers had added 911,000 fewer jobs than originally reported in the 12 months that ended in March. (AP)

‘This Is Your Fate’: Graham Responds To Hamas Leaders Hit In Doha

Matzav -

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a longtime ally of Israel, issued strong remarks in response to the Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, that targeted Hamas leadership.

“To those who planned and cheered on the October 7 attack against Israel, the United States’ greatest ally in the region: This is your fate,” Graham wrote in a message posted on X.

He then addressed the Palestinian people directly: “Your future depends on the political and military demise of Hamas. If Hamas lays down their weapons tomorrow, one of the most promising chapters in the history of the Palestinian people can begin.”

In his comments, Graham stressed that those seeking an end to the conflict should demand that Hamas disarm. “To those who want this war to end: Insist that Hamas surrender now,” he stated.

Turning to Israel, Graham expressed unwavering support for its right to defend itself. “To my Israeli friends: I understand your determination to ensure there are no more ‘October 7’ attacks and that those who want to destroy the Jewish state are denied that capability. I will always be your partner in this endeavor,” he emphasized.

Concluding his statement, Graham issued a pointed warning to Israel’s northern neighbors. “To Lebanon: Hezbollah is on my mind. To Syria: Choose wisely,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

France and Germany Condemn Israeli Airstrike In Doha: “Unacceptable”

Matzav -

France and Germany both issued harsh criticism of Israel’s strike in Doha, Qatar, even though the target was Hamas leadership.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack in a statement posted to X, writing, “Today’s Israeli strikes on Qatar are unacceptable, whatever the reason. I express my solidarity with Qatar and its Emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region.”

Macron made sure his message reached a wide audience, publishing his comments in French, English, Arabic, and Hebrew.

In Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also voiced disapproval, calling the operation “unacceptable.”

“Israel’s strike in Doha not only violates Qatar’s territorial sovereignty, but also jeopardizes all our efforts to secure the hostages’ release,” Wadephul declared, pointing out that Qatar remains an essential mediator in ceasefire talks and negotiations for freeing the captives.

According to Reuters, a government spokesperson confirmed that Merz held a phone conversation with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. During that exchange, Merz emphasized that Israel’s breach of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity could not be tolerated.

Merz further told the Emir, “The war must not spread to the entire region.”

Speaking in Washington, President Donald Trump admitted on Tuesday that he was “not thrilled” by Israel’s decision to strike Hamas officials in Doha.

“I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” Trump told reporters when pressed about the matter.

He continued by saying, “But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”

When asked whether the Israeli operation had caught him off guard, Trump responded, “I’m never surprised by anything. Especially when it comes to the Middle East. I’ll be giving a full statement tomorrow, but… I would tell you this: I was very unhappy about it. Very unhappy about every aspect. We gotta get the hostages back. But I was very unhappy about the way that went down.”

In a separate message earlier in the day, Trump had addressed the incident on Truth Social, attributing the decision to order the strike in Qatar directly to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that the United States had informed Qatar in advance of the Israeli operation. However, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Thani countered that account, insisting his country was notified only ten minutes after the strike had already taken place.

{Matzav.com}

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