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The IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced that they have eliminated Walid Haniyeh, a senior Hamas terrorist who helped lead the October 7 massacre and was responsible for recruiting and training operatives in the organization’s elite Nukhba force.

According to the military, Haniyeh served as the deputy commander of a Nukhba company within Hamas’ military wing. In recent years, he played a key role in expanding the terrorist organization’s ranks by recruiting additional operatives and overseeing the military training of fighters under his command.

The IDF said Haniyeh personally commanded a terrorist cell that infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 attack and also participated in the cross-border assault. Officials said he directed the operation and provided operational instructions to the terrorists responsible for abducting Israeli civilians and taking them into the Gaza Strip as hostages.

The military also noted that Walid Haniyeh was the nephew of Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of Hamas’ Political Bureau.

Following the operation, the IDF emphasized that its forces remain on high alert in southern Israel and will continue taking action against emerging threats.

“Troops under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the IDF said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced today that he is nominating retired Oklahoma State Trooper Lance Schroyer to serve as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, praising the longtime law enforcement officer as a proven leader with decades of experience combating crime and working alongside federal immigration authorities.

Sharing the announcement on Truth Social, Trump highlighted Schroyer’s nearly three decades in law enforcement and pointed to his own electoral success in Oklahoma as he introduced his nominee.

”Lance has over 29 YEARS of Law Enforcement experience in Oklahoma,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, noting he won all of the state’s counties in three successive elections.

If confirmed, Schroyer would become the first Senate-confirmed ICE director since 2017. The position has remained vacant due to years of partisan disputes in Washington over immigration enforcement policy.

Trump praised Schroyer’s record, describing him as a “PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst, including spearheading 287g Law Enforcement partnerships with ICE!”

The president also emphasized Schroyer’s hands-on role in immigration enforcement, saying he has firsthand experience removing illegal immigrants from American communities and enjoys strong support among ICE personnel.

He noted Schoyer’s firsthand experience getting “Illegal Aliens OFF our streets” and said just like Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, “he LOVES the men and women of ICE.”

Mullin assumed leadership of the Department of Homeland Security after winning Senate confirmation following President Trump’s decision to remove his predecessor, Kristi Noem.

The ICE director’s position has been vacant since former acting director Todd Lyons stepped down in April. His resignation followed the January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during anti-ICE demonstrations.

Trump urged senators to act swiftly on Schroyer’s nomination despite Congress currently being in recess through the week of July 4.

Trump called on the Senate — in recess through the week of July 4th — to confirm Schroyer immediately.

Schroyer has maintained a minimal public profile online. A LinkedIn page bearing his name contains no posts or personal information beyond his job title, while local news reports from 2015 and 2016 documented his response to several serious highway traffic accidents during his tenure with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani officially opened the city’s public pool season today by jumping into an East Harlem swimming pool fully dressed in a business suit—while apparently violating the very rules swimmers are expected to follow.

Mamdani made the splash at the Thomas Jefferson Pool, where he joined dozens of children for the ceremonial kickoff to the summer season. Instead of changing into swimwear, however, the mayor entered the water in his suit, despite regulations requiring all swimmers to wear proper bathing attire.

He even left his black socks on before making what spectators described as a modest cannonball into the pool.

The stunt delighted many of the children in attendance.

“It was so fun. I didn’t think he would do it! And then he shook my hand. That felt amazing,” said Mila Mader, 12.

“I told my brother, Leo, I was like, ‘Oh my God, the mayor shook my hand.’ He shook my brother’s hands, too.”

Mamdani’s jump revived a tradition that had largely disappeared in recent administrations. Earlier this year, The City reporter Katie Honan asked whether he planned to bring back the custom of mayors taking an opening-day plunge.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the last New York City mayor to participate in the ritual, while both Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams opted not to continue the tradition.

“I’m gonna be honest, I may do it. I may commit to it,” Mamdani said in March, though he did not officially announce his plans until this week.

City regulations require everyone using public pools to wear bathing suits. Male swimmers must also wear trunks with mesh lining unless they choose to wear Speedos, which are permitted under the rules.

According to the Parks Department, those requirements are intended to help maintain proper chemical balance and sanitary conditions in the pools.

This was not the first time Mamdani has made a public splash while dressed in formal clothing.

During last year’s mayoral campaign, he ran into the frigid waters off Coney Island in a business suit during the annual Polar Bear Club Plunge, using the event to promote his pledge to freeze rents if elected.

That campaign promise moved closer to reality on Thursday, when the New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved a freeze on both one-year and two-year leases for approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments across the city.

{Matzav.com / Photo: NY Post}

The United States carried out a large-scale wave of airstrikes against multiple Iranian military targets on Saturday after Tehran allegedly violated the ceasefire agreement with another attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Donald Trump to warn that Iran’s continued aggression could threaten the country’s very existence.

Announcing the operation on Truth Social, Trump said the strikes were directed at Iranian military assets responsible for recent attacks.

“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage location, and costal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” President Trump posted on Truth Social after ordering the attack.

He followed with an even sharper warning to Tehran.

“It is very possible that they will never learn!” he wrote. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

According to U.S. Central Command, the latest military action followed another alleged Iranian violation of the ceasefire. Officials said Iran had been given an opportunity to halt its attacks after Friday’s U.S. response to the drone strike on the M/V Ever Lovely, but instead launched another one-way attack drone.

CENTCOM says that after the US struck Iran Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a ship called the M/V Ever Lovely, the Iran “was given a chance to honor the cease-fire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET.”

Military officials said Saturday’s operation focused on key components of Iran’s military infrastructure.

Military officials said the new today attacks “targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”

Despite the escalating conflict, the U.S. military indicated that maritime traffic through the strategic waterway remained active.

The military also said that “commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue.”

CENTCOM added that the strikes were launched under direct presidential authorization.

The message from CENTCOM said attack began “at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

Iran swiftly denounced the operation. The country’s Foreign Ministry, speaking through the semi-official Tasnim news agency, accused the United States of carrying out unlawful military aggression.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told its semi-official news agency counterpart Tasnim that Iran condemns the “savage attacks, which targeted Iran’s coastal surveillance facilities,” adding that they constitute violations of international law.

Iran also urged neighboring Gulf states not to assist Washington in future military operations.

The Ministry also called upon its neighbors in the Persian Gulf “to adhere to the principles of good neighborliness” and to “observe the fundamental principle of international law” by preventing the US from using their territories and facilities.

Senior U.S. officials told Fox News that Saturday’s operation represented a significant escalation over the previous night’s strikes.

Senior US officials told Fox News that the barrage was “It’s a larger strike than last night.”

“It’s a larger strike than last night,” the official told Fox News.

The officials said Iran had an opportunity to de-escalate but instead chose further confrontation.

“Iran had a chance to stop shooting … and they didn’t take it,” the official said, adding, “instead, they attacked another ship in Hormuz this morning, the MT Kiku.”

The latest exchange marked another major setback for the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which has unraveled rapidly following a series of military incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Friday’s U.S. strikes had been launched after Iran targeted the cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, while Tehran later responded with a retaliatory drone attack aimed at U.S.-linked facilities in Bahrain.

The renewed fighting now threatens to derail the broader diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Vice President JD Vance.

Meanwhile, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face major disruptions as tensions remain high.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed Friday that his administration would not accept the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump administration to revoke deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian migrants, calling the ruling one of the most damaging blows to immigrants in recent history.

Responding to the court’s 6-3 decision, the socialist Muslim anti-Israel mayor released a video message condemning both the ruling and the administration’s immigration policy.

“To have people who frankly taught the world about freedom have their own freedom put into jeopardy by the actions of a Supreme Court and federal administration — it is not only cruel, it’s not something we will ever accept,” Mamdani said in a video statement after Thursday’s bombshell 6-3 ruling.

The Supreme Court concluded that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) law does not permit judicial review of the administration’s decisions, preventing lower federal courts from blocking the Trump administration’s move to terminate deportation protections for more than 350,000 Haitians and approximately 6,000 Syrians living in the United States.

Soon after the ruling was issued, Mamdani appeared alongside immigration advocates, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James before issuing an additional statement through City Hall.

“The Supreme Court just sparked one of the largest attacks on immigrants in modern American history. In one fell swoop, thousands of Haitians and Syrians now risk losing the right to live and work in the country they call home,” Mamdani also said in a statement issued by City Hall.

He warned that New York City would feel the effects of the ruling more than many other places because of its large Haitian and Syrian populations.

“This decision will cause enormous pain across the five boroughs. Here in New York, it falls hardest on our Haitian community, one of the largest in the country, alongside Syrian families,” the statement said.

Seeking to reassure affected residents, Mamdani pledged that the city would continue to stand behind immigrants with Temporary Protected Status.

“To the tens of thousands of New Yorkers with TPS who are watching the news, frightened about what comes next, hear me clearly: New York City is your home. You belong here. We will not turn our backs on you.”

City Hall also announced that the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs would soon release updated guidance and additional resources for impacted migrants.

“You will not face this cruelty alone. This administration will stand alongside immigrant New Yorkers today, tomorrow, and every day that follows,” Mamdani said.

New York City’s sanctuary policies generally prohibit local agencies and law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement or participating in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Since taking office in January, Mamdani has expanded those sanctuary protections. In February, he signed an executive order barring ICE agents from entering city-owned properties—including public schools, homeless shelters, and hospitals—without a judicial warrant.

The executive order also directed a review of city agencies to ensure compliance with sanctuary policies, called for recommendations to strengthen enforcement of those rules, and required additional training for municipal employees.

“We will make it clear once again ICE will not be able to enter New York City property without a judicial warrant. That means our schools, our shelters and our hospitals,” Mamdani said at the time.

According to city figures, New York is home to roughly 115,000 Haitians and nearly 12,000 Syrians.

Temporary Protected Status has been available to Syrian nationals since 2012 following the outbreak of the country’s civil war, while Haitians have been eligible for the designation since the devastating 2010 earthquake.

The Supreme Court previously issued a similar ruling that cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Friday that even Iran’s own leadership and citizens were relieved by the death of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, while also touting his administration’s military and diplomatic actions against Tehran as having prevented the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump made the remarks during a speech before the Faith and Freedom Coalition, where he reflected on key moments from his presidency and highlighted what he described as major successes in confronting Iran.

Recalling the January 3, 2020 U.S. drone strike in Iraq that killed Soleimani, Trump argued that the operation was welcomed even within Iran. He claimed that the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, “and all of the people in Iran were happy about” Soleimani’s death “because they were afraid of him too.”

Trump also disclosed that Israel had originally planned to participate in the operation but ultimately withdrew shortly before it was carried out.

“And I said to a couple of generals that we had who were very good, I said, ’What do you think, generals, can we do it?’ Because we worked on it for 30 days, worked on it with Israel. They said, ‘We’ll do it, sir…we’ll do it better. And he was dead the next day.”

Turning to last week’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, Trump praised the accord as a landmark achievement, saying it delivered results no previous administration had managed to secure.

Calling the agreement “historic,” Trump said it accomplished “what no president has ever been able to accomplish before, that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to let that happen. And thanks to the power and skill of the United States Armed Forces, Iran today has no Navy, no Air Force, no anti-aircraft capability, no radar, virtually no manufacturing. Their drone capacity has been cut by 82 percent. Their missile capacity has been cut by 80 percent. Their rocket launchers have been cut by 90 percent.”

The president also renewed his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, which he withdrew the United States from during his first term.

Labelling former President Barack Obama “a disaster”, Trump continued, “He gave [Iran] $1.7 billion in cash. Gave it to Iran. Thought he could buy their friendship. And it was just the opposite. They used the money, and they built missiles and everything else. And I terminated the JCPOA, which was his agreement. It was the Iran nuclear deal. It was a disaster.”

Trump concluded by arguing that withdrawing from the Obama-era agreement and later authorizing military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had prevented a far greater threat.

He further stated that if he had not terminated the Obama-era deal, “Iran would have had a nuclear weapon. If I didn’t send the B-2 bombers in 10 months ago, they would have had a nuclear weapon. We obliterated that nuclear dust. And then you wouldn’t have Israel. Israel would be gone.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States launched a series of military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. officials saying the operation was intended to respond to the assault and safeguard one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

In a statement posted on X, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted Iranian facilities used to store missiles and drones, along with radar installations connected to the attack.

According to CENTCOM, the military action followed Iran’s June 25 drone strike against the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely as it was departing the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coastline. The ship was struck by what officials described as a one-way attack drone.

CENTCOM condemned the incident, describing Iran’s actions as an “unwarranted aggression” that violated the existing ceasefire agreement while threatening the principle of free navigation through the strategically vital waterway.

“CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait,” the command said, adding that the U.S. forces remain “present and vigilant.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel and Lebanon signed a landmark framework agreement in Washington today, marking a major diplomatic milestone intended to reshape the security situation along Israel’s northern border. The US-brokered accord establishes a roadmap for future understandings between the two countries while making the removal of Hezbollah and Iranian influence from Lebanon its central objective.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremony in Washington attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, signed on behalf of Israel, while Lebanon was represented by its ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Israel-Lebanon peace framework: "It's the beginning of the beginning. There is a lot of work ahead." pic.twitter.com/djoFtFMeaQ

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 26, 2026

Addressing those gathered before the signing, Rubio welcomed the breakthrough, saying, “We are pleased to announce the agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Both countries deserve it after years of suffering caused by external interference,” he stated.

Israeli officials had indicated earlier in the day that a framework agreement would be unveiled following four days of intensive negotiations held in Washington.

According to Channel 12 News, the Memorandum of Understanding is designed to create the conditions for a new security reality along the northern frontier. At the heart of the agreement is a shared commitment to eliminating Iran’s influence inside Lebanon and preventing Hezbollah from continuing to operate as the dominant military force in the country.

Under the terms of the agreement, Israeli forces will continue holding positions within the Yellow Line security zone until Hezbollah has been completely disarmed and the Lebanese government demonstrates that it can exercise full authority over all of its territory.

Explaining Israel’s position, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News, “We will withdraw from the territory we have taken only if Hezbollah ceases to be a factor in the entire country. We retain the freedom to respond to any threat that arises.”

The official also emphasized that Jerusalem is seeking broad international recognition for maintaining its military presence in the security zone for as long as threats against Israel remain.

The framework further includes a pilot initiative under which the IDF would gradually leave a limited area of southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to move into those positions and assume responsibility for security.

The pilot phase will initially focus on two designated sectors. One area is located outside the Yellow Line, west of the Salouqi River and south of the Litani River. The second extends north of the Litani, with portions both inside and outside the newly established Yellow Line.

Implementation of the pilot program is expected to begin once the Lebanese Armed Forces complete their deployment preparations. During the initial stage, US military personnel will accompany Lebanese troops to assist them in carrying out the transition.

Following the signing ceremony, a senior Israeli diplomatic official described the agreement as an important diplomatic breakthrough, stating, “Following lengthy negotiations, representatives from the US, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral working framework this evening, designed to pave the way for future agreements and achieve a lasting peace settlement.”

The official stressed that Israel’s security requirements remain unchanged, adding, “Israel will maintain its security zone within the boundaries of the Yellow Line in Lebanon until the day Hezbollah and all other terrorist organizations in Lebanon are disarmed, and a threat to the State of Israel no longer emanates from Lebanese territory. The IDF will retain full operational freedom of action throughout the security zone to neutralize threats of any kind.”

Highlighting the broader significance of the agreement, the senior diplomatic official concluded, “This trilateral framework represents a major achievement for Israel.” He asserted that the framework agreement “categorically rejects Iran’s attempt to force a unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon,” effectively stripping both Iran and Hezbollah of any role or influence in the country.

[Video below.] Rav Shlomo Englander, rosh yeshiva of Bais Shmaya, delivered a forceful address condemning demonstrations, road blockages, and confrontational protest tactics, arguing that such methods run contrary to the teachings of the Chazon Ish and the traditional approach of gedolei Yisroel.

The remarks, published in the Daas Emes MiToraso publication by Otzar HaParshah, focused on what the rosh yeshiva described as the growing phenomenon of young bnei Torah embracing the view that the draft decree should be fought through public protests, force, and disruptive demonstrations.

Rav Englander cited a historic letter that the Chazon Ish dictated word for word following an incident in which a group of young men set fire to the vehicles of Shabbos motorists in Yerushalayim.

In the extraordinary public proclamation, the Chazon Ish wrote: “This is not the way, nor is it the portion of Yaakov… The holy Torah and its mitzvos will not prevail through acts of violence, for ‘Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.’”

The Chazon Ish went on to denounce such conduct in especially sharp terms.

“Terror is a foreign branch in the vineyard of faithful Judaism, a poisonous fruit of secular parties that educate people to admire brute force and the hands of Eisav. Blessed is He Who has not made us like the secularists. Their ways are not our ways, and may we have no share with them.”

Rav Englander noted that following publication of the letter, tensions subsided, and even the most zealous elements refrained from acting in opposition to the Chazon Ish’s unequivocal position.

The rosh yeshiva also referenced another letter published in 1953 with the approval of the Chazon Ish, which stated that anyone who believes the spiritual struggle can be won through force and violence has adopted the worldview of “kochi v’otzem yadi.”

He further recalled the well-known account involving the Brisker Rav, who once confronted one of the leaders of Neturei Karta demonstrations by declaring, “You are a Zionist.”

According to the story, the Brisker Rav explained that had the man lived in Soviet Russia, he would never have dared stage such protests because he feared being shot. The fact that he protested in Israel, the Brisker Rav argued, demonstrated that he relied on the Zionist government’s laws and restraint. One who depends on those laws, he said, is, in that sense, a Zionist.

Rav Englander also cited the death of Rav Pinchos Segalov, who died after being struck by a police officer, as well as comments made by Rav Moshe Silber at the levayah of a bochur who was killed by an Arab driver during a demonstration. Rav Silber reportedly said that anyone responsible for organizing that protest should repent for the bloodshed.

Rav Englander also questioned why bnei Torah involved in such demonstrations later turn to civil rights organizations to complain about police conduct.

“Is that not Zionism as well,” he asked, “when they believe the authorities will uphold the law?”

Concluding his address, the rosh yeshiva said such methods fundamentally contradict the educational principles handed down by the gedolim. Just as children should not be disciplined through slaps and shouting because it teaches that force is an acceptable means of achieving one’s goals, he argued, the same principle applies to public protests.

“If people hold demonstrations, break into the homes of government officials, and smash their windows, even if, as a result, several bochurim are released from prison, anyone who follows that path is being educated in a way of force and violence,” Rav Englander concluded. He stressed that such an approach is inconsistent with the educational philosophy taught by the Chazon Ish and the gedolei hador.

WATCH:

A major public gathering in support of bnei yeshivah imprisoned in military jails has been postponed until Monday night, organizers announced. The event, titled Maamad Kevod HaTorah, will be led by the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, president of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants.

The rally follows a decision reached two weeks ago at a gathering of Sephardic community rabbanim in Bnei Brak, where leaders resolved to organize a mass demonstration in response to the draft of bnei yeshivah and the imprisonment of bnei Torah in military detention facilities.

Originally scheduled for Motzoei Shabbos following Parshas Balak, the event has now been rescheduled for Monday after numerous rabbanim and participants from outside Bnei Brak requested additional time to arrange their attendance.

According to organizers, the rally will bring together the city’s rabbanim, roshei yeshivah, roshei kollelim, and other gedolei Torah, alongside thousands of bnei Torah and avreichim, in a public demonstration of support for those currently incarcerated over the draft issue.

The gathering will take place along Rechov Eshel Avraham and Rechov Rabinov in the Ramat Elchanan and Ramat Aharon neighborhoods of Bnei Brak.

The rally is scheduled to begin Monday night, the 14th of Tammuz, at 9:30 p.m. Organizers say they are preparing for the arrival of tens of thousands and emphasize that the event will be conducted in an orderly fashion while expressing broad public support for lomdei Torah who have been imprisoned in military jails.

After an intensive diplomatic effort that lasted nearly two days, the body of the young Chernobyler chossid, Reb Akiva Rand z”l, who was tragically killed in a car accident near Kishinev, has been released by Moldovan authorities and is expected to be flown to Eretz Yisroel aboard a specially chartered private aircraft before Shabbos for burial. The development brought enormous relief to the grieving family and the many chassidim who had anxiously awaited the outcome.

Sources said that immediately after news of the tragedy emerged, members of ZAKA and its International Division launched an intensive campaign to prevent an autopsy and avoid unnecessary delays in releasing the body. The possibility of kavod hameis being compromised and the burial being postponed weighed heavily on the devastated family.

Senior askanim soon joined the effort. Through the extensive involvement of Motty Babchik, who personally enlisted the assistance of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s highest diplomatic channels were activated in negotiations with the Moldovan government. Working closely together, Babchik and Sa’ar pressed officials in Kishinev until authorities finally agreed to release the body.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s International Division remained at the accident scene, ensuring that the deceased was treated with the utmost dignity while carefully recovering all necessary remains so that he could be brought to kever Yisroel in accordance with halachah.

From the outset, Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy in Moldova, and ZAKA’s International Division coordinated the response, assisting the family while simultaneously working to secure the release of the body. Although Moldovan authorities initially demanded that an autopsy be performed, ZAKA ultimately succeeded in preventing the procedure and obtaining permission for the body to be transported to Israel for burial.

Nachman Dickstein, commander of ZAKA Europe, praised the successful outcome, saying: “The efforts that continued for nearly two days concluded, with siyata d’Shmaya, successfully. I would like to thank the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy in Moldova, Chabad emissary in Moldova Rav Mendy Axel, and all those in Israel and Moldova who worked tirelessly around the clock until the mission was completed. Thanks to this cooperation, we were able to preserve Akiva’s dignity, prevent an autopsy, and bring him to kever Yisroel.”

Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA’s Deputy Director of Operations, added: “I would like to thank ZAKA Europe commander Nachman Dickstein for his professional and dedicated leadership, ZAKA’s legal department and its coordinator Michael Gutwin, Yossi Landau, ZAKA’s Lachish District operations officer, the volunteers of ZAKA’s International Division, and all of our partners in Israel and around the world. Special thanks to the askanim in the United States who worked with American government officials, including Rav Moshe Dovid Niederman (UJO Williamsburg), Rav Moshe Margaretten (Tzedek), and Zvi Gluck (Amudim), whose efforts contributed greatly to completing this mission. Thanks to everyone’s cooperation, all procedures were completed, Akiva’s body was released without an autopsy, and he will be brought to burial in Israel with the dignity he deserves.”

As previously reported, the olam hachassidus—and the Chernobyler chassidus in particular—was shaken by the tragic passing of Reb Akiva Rand, who was just 29 years old.

The fatal accident occurred while Reb Akiva was traveling with a group of chassidim to Moldova to visit the kever of the tzaddik Rav Yechiel Heshel of Krilovitz, whose yahrtzeit fell this week. While driving near Kishinev, Reb Akiva lost control of his vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, while the other passengers sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

A native of London, Reb Akiva was the son of Reb Mordechai Dovid Rand, one of the prominent Chernobyler chassidim, and the son-in-law of Rav Yosef Mordechai Weiss, rav of the Machzikei HaDas community in Zurich. After his marriage, he settled in Yerushalayim, where he learned in Kollel Nachalas Akiva and devoted himself to mentoring bochurim at Yeshivas Kochav MiYaakov–Tchebin.

Friends described him as a gentle and refined ben Torah, deeply devoted to Torah and yiras Shomayim. For many years, he and his wife waited to be blessed with children before finally meriting three young children, who have now been left orphaned by this heartbreaking tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

A major disruption to summer air travel has been avoided after Israel and the U.S. military reached an agreement to accelerate the relocation of dozens of American aircraft parked at Ben Gurion Airport, clearing the way for hundreds of thousands of additional commercial flights.

The Transportation Ministry announced Friday that the new understandings with the U.S. military will eliminate the remaining threat to more than 200,000 airline tickets scheduled for July and August. The agreement follows an earlier breakthrough about a week and a half ago that already prevented the cancellation of more than 2.4 million tickets.

Since June 16, when the first agreement was reached to ease the crisis, 15 American military aircraft have already been moved out of Ben Gurion Airport. Under the latest arrangement, another 30 aircraft will be gradually transferred to Israeli Air Force bases by next Tuesday, with an additional phase to follow that will relocate 20 more aircraft.

As part of the agreement, Israel committed that, should the security situation deteriorate, the American aircraft will be permitted to return to Ben Gurion Airport within approximately 72 hours.

The crisis developed after dozens of U.S. Air Force refueling and transport aircraft were stationed at Ben Gurion, occupying a substantial portion of the airport’s available parking space for civilian aircraft. In recent weeks, the Israel Airports Authority warned that unless the military aircraft were relocated, airlines would likely be forced to reduce their summer and Tishrei Yom Tov schedules. Initial estimates indicated that more than 2.4 million airline tickets could ultimately have been canceled if the congestion was not resolved.

{Matzav.com}

Conservative media personality Mark Levin and his wife, Julie, toured the Binyamin region this week as guests of Binyamin Regional Council Governor Israel Ganz, visiting strategic sites, meeting local residents and business leaders, and learning firsthand about the area’s security challenges, Jewish communities, and historical significance.

Levin, one of America’s most influential conservative television and radio hosts, bestselling authors, and constitutional lawyers, spent the day touring key locations throughout Binyamin, where he received briefings on the region’s strategic importance, its growing Jewish communities, and its central role in both Jewish history and Israel’s future.

The visit began at the Binyamin Regional Council’s emergency command center, where the Levins were shown remnants of Iranian missiles that struck within the council’s jurisdiction during the recent war. They then traveled to Shalisha Farm, where they met the owners and learned how local farms help preserve open land while strengthening Israel’s presence throughout the region.

During the tour, Ganz outlined the security challenges confronting residents of Judea and Samaria, noting that thousands of terrorist attacks had been carried out across the area over the past year. He emphasized that the region’s farms and communities play a critical role in protecting Israel’s strategic mountain ridges, which he described as vital to the country’s long-term security.

The delegation later stopped at the Kida lookout point, where they received a detailed briefing on Binyamin’s topography and its strategic importance to Israel’s defense. From there, they continued to Ancient Shiloh, where they davened at the site of the Mishkan and toured the archaeological and tourism complex. During the visit, Levin also met with leading Israeli business figures who are exploring investment opportunities in Binyamin. The tour concluded with a meal at Gofna Restaurant, owned by MasterChef winner Yehoyada Nizri.

Reflecting on the visit, Levin said: “It was an amazing tour. I love this place, and I especially love the Tabernacle site at Ancient Shiloh. Everyone should visit Judea and Samaria. This is not the West Bank of anywhere – if anything, it is the eastern bank of the State of Israel. To understand Judea and Samaria, you need to come here and see reality with your own eyes. This is the birthplace of Judaism and the birthplace of Christianity.

“Many people in the United States receive a distorted picture of this place. In reality, you find incredible people here – farmers, families, and thriving communities. You can see how the Palestinians continue building in an effort to create territorial continuity that would sever Jewish communities from one another and from major transportation routes. Anyone who wants to understand the Holy Land and the reality here must come and see it for themselves.”

Ganz thanked Levin for his longstanding support of Israel, saying: “Mark, I want to thank you for coming here. I want to thank you for fighting for a better world and for your courageous support of Israel throughout the years. We need people like you who stand for truth, justice, and security in Israel and around the world. We are proud to host you here in Binyamin and to show you reality as it truly is – the challenges, the communities, the history, and the future that we are building every day.”

Speaking during the stop at Shalisha Farm, Ganz underscored the strategic importance of the region’s agricultural outposts, declaring: “Every farm here is a frontline outpost for the State of Israel. Anyone standing on these mountains immediately understands that the struggle in Binyamin, in Judea and Samaria, is not a debate about real estate – it is a matter of national security. From these ridges you can overlook the Jordan Valley on one side and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area on the other. The communities and farms protect the land, strengthen security, and help ensure Israel’s future for generations to come. That is why we continue to build, develop, and deepen our roots in this land with determination and purpose.”

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{Matzav.com}

Police have arrested four Arad residents in connection with the violent clashes that erupted earlier this week against members of the Gerer chassidus, following an incident in which local residents allegedly attempted to prevent chassidim from joining Wednesday’s large vehicle protest in support of imprisoned bnei yeshivah.

According to a statement released by Israel Police, officers from the Arad station took the four suspects into custody Friday on suspicion of involvement in the violent altercation. The suspects were brought in for questioning as investigators continue examining the incident.

Police said the confrontation occurred Wednesday afternoon after authorities received reports of a violent fight in one of the city’s neighborhoods. Officers responded quickly to restore order and immediately launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those involved.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions in Arad, where recent confrontations have broken out between different groups in the city. Wednesday’s violence required the intervention of large numbers of security personnel.

The incident reportedly began when secular residents attempted to block vehicles carrying Gerer chassidim who were planning to join the nationwide convoy traveling toward Military Prison 10 as part of the protest against the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and is focused on reconstructing the events and identifying all individuals involved in the violence. Officers continue to gather witness statements and additional evidence as part of the probe.

The four suspects remain under investigation on suspicion of assault, and police said further arrests may follow if additional individuals are identified as having participated in the attack. Authorities stated that they intend to bring all those responsible before the courts.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Rebbe convened senior rabbinic leaders and members of the Bnos Melachim committee of Belz to strengthen and expand the organization’s efforts to promote tznius within the Belz community. During the gathering, the Rebbe reflected on the founding of the Beis Malka educational network, emphasized the spiritual purpose behind its establishment, and declared that strengthening tznius among women would serve as a source of salvation for the entire generation.

The meeting, held at the Rebbe’s residence, brought together committee members and dayanim as part of an initiative to broaden and reinforce the activities of the Bnos Melachim committee. The organization was established to support families in upholding the community’s standards of tznius and to deepen women’s connection to the values and traditions of the Belz chassidus.

Addressing the gathering in the presence of the Rebbe, Rav Yehoshua Fink, a member of the committee and dayan who also serves as the spiritual director of Beis Malka, explained that although the committee is expanding, every mother within the Belz community is, in essence, a member of the initiative.

He stressed that the committee’s purpose is not to govern the public but to serve it.

“The committee,” Rav Fink said, “is not here to stand ‘above’ the ציבור, but rather its sole desire is to serve as a shaliach tzibbur, assisting the holy ציבור that wishes to follow the path of Torah and chassidus, the way of our holy fathers and rabbeim.”

Another committee member, Rav Elimelech Gross, spoke about the unique place women have always occupied within Belz.

“In Belz, righteous women have always held a special and honored place,” he said. He noted that the Belzer Rebbes would not enter the beis medrash without a women’s section, emphasizing that righteous women possess the ability to pierce the heavens with their tears, as “the gates of tears are never closed.” He added that this reflects the esteem in which women who faithfully uphold the standards of tznius have always been held, and recalled that the Rebbe has consistently spoken about the importance of the subject during the annual Stei’ige Torah gathering, presenting it as a fundamental pillar of authentic Jewish life.

Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, who heads the committee, then addressed the gathering, praising its members for faithfully carrying out the Rebbe’s guidance.

“It is our sacred and pleasant obligation not to surrender to the temptations of the street,” he said. “‘Zich nisht lozen,’ but rather to continue walking in the path of Belz as it has been throughout the generations. Belz has always served as a model for the broader world of chassidus in matters of ruchniyus, and certainly in this area as well it must remain the standard-bearer.”

The Belzer Rebbe then delivered the keynote address, recounting at length the founding of the Beis Malka school system and the tremendous financial burden and other challenges that accompanied its creation.

“Many years ago, when Beis Malka was established, it involved tremendous financial burdens and many other challenges,” the Rebbe recalled. “People asked me why such an institution was necessary. I answered that the day would come when graduates of girls’ schools would be asked why they dressed a certain way, and their answer would be that they dressed that way simply because that was the custom at their particular school. I said that cannot be. There must be a defined path. Just as there is a proper mode of dress for men, there must likewise be a proper mode of dress for women, with clear boundaries. Beis Malka was not established so that girls could learn mathematics or other academic subjects. It was founded so that they would know how a Jewish daughter is meant to dress.”

The Rebbe also recalled a story about his grandfather, the Maharid of Belz.

“I have related in the past that when one of the young women in my grandfather the Maharid’s family was preparing to travel to another city, he first asked to inspect her suitcase to ensure that every article of clothing she was taking complied with the standards of tznius.”

The Rebbe stressed that every standard accepted within Belz is rooted in the long-established traditions of the chassidus.

“We must understand that everything we undertake to observe is based on the customs practiced in Belz. There must be care taken regarding the dress of both men and women. Everything must be conducted according to Torah and chassidus. We have gathered here today to address this matter. We established Beis Malka so that we would not need to compromise in these areas, as circumstances required during the war years.”

He continued by emphasizing that responsibility begins at home and extends to those in positions of influence.

“Every individual must ensure that these standards are upheld within his own home. Likewise, those who have influence over the ציבור have an obligation to speak about these matters. New fashions and new ‘musters’ are constantly emerging. Those appointed to oversee this issue have the responsibility to ensure that standards of women’s tznius are not weakened beyond what is absolutely necessary.”

Turning to the future of the community, the Rebbe stressed that preserving the next generation depends on parents serving as living examples.

“If we wish to raise chassidishe doros, we must first ensure that parents conduct themselves properly. That is why we have assembled today—to establish clear standards and restore matters to their proper place. We must build a generation of descendants who are deeply attached to the love and fear of Hashem, and therefore parents must lead by example and carefully uphold all the standards of tznius that have always been observed in Belz.”

The Rebbe concluded with a strong appeal to preserve firm boundaries despite changing fashions and social trends.

“If we indeed strengthen ourselves, remain steadfast and resolute, and refuse to yield, recognizing that there are boundaries which must never be crossed, we will merit the continued preservation of Judaism according to our sacred tradition. But if people begin searching for leniencies and creating new standards, no one can know how far that may lead. If we remain faithful to what has been observed until now, and everyone knows that in Belz these standards are carefully maintained, that strengthening will be the salvation of the entire generation.

“There must be a geder that is never crossed. New styles and new ideas appear constantly, and no one knows what the next trend will be. Therefore, we must establish a geder that serves as a firm boundary which is never breached. If we do so, we will succeed in continuing forward.”

Following the Rebbe’s address, members of the committee approached to receive a specially blessed coin from the Rebbe as a token of encouragement for their continued work.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional ceremony honoring 60 newly certified morai tzedek and rabbanim took an unexpected turn Wednesday evening when Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef publicly revealed that legal restrictions prevented him from officially signing their certification documents.

The event, held in honor of the new morai hora’ah, was led by Rav Dovid Yosef together with Rav Gidon Ben Moshe and attended by numerous prominent dayanim and rabbanim. The evening celebrated the successful completion of the rigorous examination process by the new rabbanim.

Despite the festive atmosphere, the ceremony was overshadowed by two unexpected developments: legal limitations that affected the certification process and severe traffic disruptions that prevented several leading gedolei Torah from attending.

During the presentation of the certificates, attendees noticed that although Rav Dovid Yosef had originally been expected to personally sign each semichah certificate, his signature did not appear on the documents.

Addressing the matter directly, the Rishon Letzion explained to those in attendance: “Originally, I was supposed to sign the certificates myself, but this crazy state prohibits me from doing so.”

The event had also been scheduled to include the participation of Chacham Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, along with several other distinguished rabbanim who had confirmed their attendance in advance.

However, widespread road closures and massive traffic congestion caused by a vehicle protest forced them to turn back before reaching the venue, making it impossible for them to participate in the ceremony.

Despite those setbacks, the evening concluded on an uplifting note as the newly certified morai tzedek formally accepted the responsibility of hora’ah, marking the beginning of their service as rabbanim and halachic authorities in communities across the country.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of left-wing demonstrators gathered Friday morning at the entrance to Bnei Brak in an attempt to block traffic in protest of this week’s chareidi vehicle demonstrations against the draft law. The protest, held just hours before Shabbos, led to confrontations with local residents, though turnout was far smaller than organizers had promised.

The demonstration took place on Rechov Kahaneman after organizers had vowed to significantly disrupt access to the city. Despite those declarations, only a relatively small number of protesters arrived at the scene.

Residents strongly objected to the protest, particularly because it was held during the busy hours leading up to Shabbos, when thousands of families were making their final preparations. The area quickly became the site of heated confrontations as locals expressed anger over the attempt to block one of the city’s main thoroughfares at such a sensitive time.

The protest was organized following statements by attorney Ayelet Hashachar Seidof, head of the “Mothers on the Front” movement, who announced that activists intended to block Bnei Brak in response to this week’s chareidi vehicle protests against the conscription of bnei yeshivah.

“Road blockages will be met with road blockages,” Seidof said in advance of the demonstration, adding that the goal was “to disrupt the lives” of Bnei Brak residents.

The decision to stage the protest immediately before Shabbos drew sharp criticism throughout the city, as the streets were filled with pedestrians, children, and shoppers completing their last-minute preparations.

Large numbers of local residents gathered opposite the demonstrators, with some chanting, “We will die rather than be drafted.” Tensions escalated into physical confrontations that included pushing between protesters and chareidim. During the disturbance, one female protester removed her shirt as part of the demonstration. Police officers at the scene intervened in an effort to separate the opposing groups and prevent further escalation.

According to the organizers, Friday’s demonstration was intended as retaliation for this week’s vehicle protest, during which chareidi demonstrators blocked major highways across Israel for several hours in protest of the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

{Matzav.com}

As the number of bnei yeshiva currently held in Israel’s military prison reportedly stands at 46, a former inmate has offered a firsthand account of daily life behind bars, describing an environment centered around tefillah and Torah learning and insisting that incarceration is “not scary at all.”

Speaking with Betzalel Kahn on Israel’s Kol Chai Radio, 24-year-old Shmaryahu Greineman, who was imprisoned in the military jail in recent months, shared details about the prison routine and conditions. He said that during his incarceration there were only six bnei yeshiva in the facility.

Greineman explained that inmates are divided among four different companies based on the length of their sentence and the nature of their offense. According to him, bnei yeshiva are generally assigned to Company A, which houses prisoners serving relatively short terms.

He said the spiritual center of prison life is the beis medrash and shul.

“It’s either being inside your cell or being in the shul,” he said.

Greineman noted that the prison provides a wide range of seforim, including Shas, Chumashim, Tanach, Mishnayos, and Mishnah Berurah. Prisoners are also permitted to bring books back to their cells during lockdown periods.

He added that inmates are given opportunities to daven three times each day and that military regulations require prison officials to accommodate regular davening times and the laying of tefillin.

“On Shabbos they give even more time, and the religious needs are respected,” he said.

Discussing contact with family members, Greineman explained that each inmate is allotted seven minutes of telephone time per day.

“After seven minutes, the call disconnects automatically,” he said.

He noted, however, that conversations with attorneys are not subject to any time limit and added that bnei yeshiva entering prison generally receive assistance and guidance from various organizations.

Asked whether imprisonment was frightening, Greineman answered without hesitation.

“Not at all.”

He added that the presence of other bnei yeshiva makes the experience significantly easier, allowing them to learn together throughout the day.

“If I were there today among the 46 bochurim, it would actually be much easier,” he said.

Greineman also described what he called a unique phenomenon within the prison, referring to it as a place “where people learn emunah.”

He said that many secular soldiers begin moving closer to Judaism during their time in prison.

“Suddenly, people with tattoos begin coming to the shul, putting on tefillin, keeping Shabbos, and listening to words of Torah,” he said, describing what he believes is a widespread and meaningful spiritual transformation experienced by many inmates.

President Trump on Friday sharply criticized Iran after acknowledging that the regime launched a drone attack against a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the strike a violation of the ceasefire established under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that Iranian forces launched multiple attack drones at ships traveling through the strategic waterway.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote. “One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship. Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way.”

Trump added that US forces intercepted the remaining drones before they could reach their targets.

“We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” he added.

The president’s remarks came a day after the attack, when the White House initially took a more measured approach, saying only, “We are aware of these reports and looking into them.”

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the stability of the already fragile ceasefire while complicating ongoing efforts to ensure the safe movement of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

Reaffirming the administration’s position, the White House stated, “President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the strait.”

[Video below.] Maran Rav Dov Landau publicly declared Thursday night that street protests are not the proper path in response to the gezeiras hagiyus and the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

Rav Landau’s statement has stirred considerable discussion, coming only days after the large vehicle convoy protest that took place on highways throughout Eretz Yisroel.

The remarks were delivered during a gathering at Rav Landau’s home in Bnei Brak attended by dozens of roshei yeshivah from across the country.

The meeting had originally been convened to review the recent historic Keren Olam HaTorah fundraising mission to the United States, during which leading gedolei Torah sought support to help offset government cuts to yeshivah funding. During the gathering, however, Rav Landau shifted the focus to the growing trend of public demonstrations.

Referring to the recent protests, Rav Landau told the assembled roshei yeshivah, “All kinds of other protests that we did not hear about from our rabbeim in previous generations are not our way.”

He continued by expressing concern over the effect such demonstrations can have on the image of the chareidi community.

“Very often these protests cause serious damage to the chareidi public’s image. We must remember that the most important thing is dedication, toil, and immersion in Torah study. That is the greatest sanctification of Hashem’s Name, and there is no doubt that strengthening Torah study within the botei medrash is what will help counter these decrees and difficulties.”

Rav Landau also spoke about his recent trip to the United States and the ongoing dispute over government funding for yeshivos. He emphasized that Eretz Yisroel has become the world’s central hub of Torah learning and serves as the spiritual heartbeat of the entire Jewish world.

According to Rav Landau, supporters overseas recognize that any weakening of Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel would have consequences for Klal Yisroel worldwide. He said that this understanding has led philanthropists to generously support bnei Torah.

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{Matzav.com}