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The IDF carried out a major overnight operation in southern Lebanon early Thursday, destroying a vast Hezbollah tunnel complex near the Beaufort Ridge that Israeli officials say was a key part of the terror group’s long-term plan to infiltrate and attack communities throughout the Galilee.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the underground network played a central role in Hezbollah’s strategy to invade Israeli towns in northern Israel.

The statement said the military used roughly 700 tons of explosives to demolish the extensive tunnel system as part of its continued campaign to eliminate Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Israeli officials added that the operation was launched after Hezbollah committed what they described as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu and Katz reiterated that Israel will respond forcefully to any future violations. “Any attempt by Hezbollah to target IDF forces or Israeli civilians will be met with a harsh and powerful response that will exact a heavy toll on the terror organization,” the statement read.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit also announced the operation, stating, “A short while ago, as part of a limited activity within the area of the Security Zone, IDF soldiers dismantled several key underground tunnels beneath the Beaufort Ridge.”

According to the military, the underground facility functioned as a primary command center where Hezbollah commanders and operatives coordinated combat operations and directed attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

The IDF said the sprawling tunnel complex represented one of Hezbollah’s most significant strategic strongholds. Built over approximately two decades and stretching across multiple underground levels, it served as the central command center for Hezbollah’s Bader Unit in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials said the project was financed and planned by the Iranian regime.

“The tunnel network posed a threat to the residents of northern Israel and IDF soldiers, as it was located just 6 kilometers away from the area of Metula and the Galilee Panhandle. Over the course of the war, dozens of UAVs, explosive devices, and anti-tank missiles were launched from this infrastructure toward Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Tonight, the IDF dismantled a significant portion of the underground tunnel network,” it continued.

The military said preparations for the demolition had been underway for weeks. “Over the past several weeks,” the IDF statement continued, “IDF soldiers completed their deployment in the area of the Beaufort Ridge, while maintaining operational control of the underground tunnel network and preparing it for dismantling.”

The IDF emphasized that its forces remain fully prepared for any escalation along the northern front. “IDF soldiers continue to operate in the area of Ali Taher Ridge, remain on high alert, and are prepared for both defensive and offensive scenarios. Attacks on IDF soldiers will be responded to accordingly.”

Reaffirming Israel’s position on the ceasefire, the military concluded, “The IDF continues to remain committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and will continue to operate to remove any threat posed to IDF soldiers.”

Hours before the controlled explosions began, authorities notified residents across northern Israel that loud blasts would likely be heard between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. because of planned military activity in the area.

Because of the enormous amount of explosives used, residents of Metula and Misgav Am were instructed to keep their windows open to reduce the risk of shattered glass from the shockwaves. Officials emphasized that there was no change in the overall security situation and that no additional safety directives were issued for surrounding communities.

{Matzav.com}

Michael Cohen is joining the growing list of New Yorkers outraged after receiving a city notice warning that he could be hit with Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s controversial new pied-à-terre tax unless he proves his Manhattan apartment is his primary residence.

Cohen, who once served as President Trump’s longtime fixer, told The Post that he was stunned when a letter arrived earlier this week directing him to verify that his condominium at Trump Park Avenue on the Upper East Side is his main home or risk paying tens of thousands of dollars in additional taxes.

“I have been paying NYC property taxes for 34 years,” he fumed to The Post on Thursday. “I’m registered as a voter here yet now I have to go through the exercise in demonstrating to the city that I’m a resident.”

Beyond objecting to the notice itself, Cohen said he is deeply troubled by the amount of personal information City Hall is demanding from homeowners, particularly under an administration he believes has made wealthy residents a political target.

“I’m extremely concerned about submitting this information to a democratic socialist who has campaigned and continues to campaign on taking dollars out of the pockets of wealthy New Yorkers or anyone he perceives to be wealthy,” Cohen said, adding that numerous neighbors in his building also received identical letters.

The city recently began mailing notices to tens of thousands of property owners, instructing them to establish that their homes are primary residences or face liability under the new tax approved by Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul as part of this year’s state budget.

The tax applies to second homes valued at $5 million or more, as well as vacant condominiums and co-ops worth at least $1 million that are not used as primary residences.

Because condominium and co-op tax rates range from 4% to 6.5%, Cohen estimates he could be forced to pay nearly $50,000 annually if the city mistakenly classifies his apartment as a second home.

As previously reported by The Post, homeowners seeking to avoid the tax must complete a lengthy verification process and provide documentation proving where they primarily live.

Among the requested documents is a recently filed federal or state tax return, a requirement Cohen said crossed the line.

“Who would give their tax returns?” he incredulously asked. “This is beyond abnormal.”

Although the city says applicants may instead submit alternative proof, such as a driver’s license, Cohen said the online portal would not allow him to complete the process without uploading his tax return, describing the website as difficult to navigate.

He also objected to the city’s request for the Social Security numbers of every person residing in the apartment.

In cases where a property is owned through a trust or limited liability company, the city also requires copies of trust documents or an affidavit from the trustee or managing member affirming that the property serves as the owner’s primary residence.

Cohen said his apartment in the historic former Hotel Delmonico is held in a trust, explaining that the arrangement protects the property from potential lawsuits or judgments while also helping ensure a smooth transfer of assets to his children.

The extensive personal information requested by the city has also raised concerns for Cohen about how securely the data will be stored and who may ultimately have access to it. Cohen, who has since repaired his relationship with President Trump after serving as a key witness in the 2023 New York business fraud case, questioned whether the city can adequately safeguard such sensitive records.

“Who is going to have access to this information and use it?” he said. “Will the people in the administration all have access and where is it going to sit? Is it a secured website?”

His concerns intensified after the Mamdani administration this week published a searchable online database listing the names and addresses of property owners whose homes could be subject to the new tax.

The public release of that information sparked widespread backlash from residents who argued the database unnecessarily exposed homeowners’ personal information and created potential security risks.

“It was very disconcerting to see my name listed and to see many of my neighbors,” employment labor attorney Carolyn Richmond told The NY Post.

Calling the database an effort to publicly embarrass successful New Yorkers, Richmond said the list is an attempt at “shaming everyone in this city who has worked hard to succeed.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Army has revealed a sophisticated new electronic warfare system known as the “Hammer of the Gods,” a portable platform built to throw enemy precision-guided weapons off course by disrupting the signals they rely on to accurately strike their targets.

Designed for covert deployment aboard U.S. military vessels, the advanced system interferes with the guidance technology used by long-range artillery, cruise missiles, and other precision munitions, dramatically reducing their ability to hit intended targets.

While the Army has spent the past two years evaluating land-based versions of the technology, officials said a successful demonstration conducted earlier this month off the West Coast marked the system’s first maritime test.

The Hammer of the Gods functions by jamming positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals—the critical data modern precision weapons depend on for accurate navigation.

Once those PNT signals are disrupted, advanced missiles and guided projectiles lose the information needed to stay on course, making them significantly more likely to miss their targets and slowing down enemy operations.

In addition to disrupting hostile weapons, the platform includes its own communications network, allowing U.S. and allied forces to maintain reliable communications even while the jamming system is active or in environments where normal communications have been compromised.

Army officials told Fox News that the recent maritime trial demonstrated the system’s ability to be successfully deployed, operated, and recovered under realistic sea-based conditions.

The unveiling of the Hammer of the Gods is the latest in a series of advanced military technologies the United States has showcased in recent months.

Earlier this year, during the dramatic rescue of a U.S. Air Force officer who had been shot down over Iran, intelligence officials relied on a previously undisclosed CIA technology called “Ghost Murmur,” which they said located the stranded airman by remotely detecting his heartbeat.

The highly advanced system combines nitrogen-vacancy center (NV) diamonds—capable of sensing tiny magnetic fields—with artificial intelligence that filters out surrounding interference, allowing human heartbeats to be detected even from the air.

Officials have not disclosed the distance from which Ghost Murmur located the downed pilot, but University of Wisconsin-Madison physics professor Thad Walker said that identifying a heartbeat from as far as 100 meters away would be an “astounding” achievement.

President Trump praised the breakthrough technology during a phone call with The Post, saying, “Nobody even knows what that is. Nobody has ever heard of it before,” before suggesting that the U.S. possesses even more classified capabilities that remain hidden from public view.

“We have many other things that nobody has ever heard about. We have equipment the likes of which nobody has ever even thought about,” he intimated.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

A new Skver shtiebel opened this past Shabbos in the Nanuet–New City area.

According to Rockland Daily, the shtiebel was established after several Skver families moved into the neighborhood and was opened with the encouragement and bracha of the Skverer Rebbe. It is reportedly the ninth Skver shtiebel serving families throughout the greater Monsey area.

Under normal circumstances, there would be nothing objectionable about that. Yidden should be free to purchase homes legally, establish shuls, educate their children and build communities wherever the law allows.

But New Square’s leadership has demanded that the same freedom not be extended to everyone else.

Remember the Letter

Years ago, New Square’s leadership issued a letter asking Orthodox Jewish families not to purchase homes within approximately one mile of the village.

The explanation was explicit.

New Square needed to remain an “isolated corner” and a “secluded shtetl.” The letter warned that if other frum families moved too close, Skver children could be exposed to different standards of business, shopping and tznius, threatening the community’s supposed “high level of purity.”

The message was unmistakable:

Stay away from us.

Do not move near us.

Do not allow your families, institutions and children to come too close to ours.

We must remain isolated. We must remain separate. We must remain pure.

Yet today, Skver families are being encouraged to move directly into the established neighborhoods of other frum Jews.

There is a growing Skver presence on McNamara Road. The Francis Place shtiebel continues to expand. There is a Skver girls’ school on College Road. And now another shtiebel has opened near New City with the reported encouragement of the Rebbe himself.

So where did the concern for isolation go?

If living among Jews with different customs, shopping habits and standards is so dangerous, why is New Square leadership encouraging its own followers to establish outposts throughout greater Monsey?

Why are Skver families permitted to live among us, while we are told that living near them threatens their purity?

Isolation in One Direction

No one is demanding that Skver families leave Nanuet, New City, Wesley Hills or any other neighborhood.

No one is calling for their shtieblach to be closed.

No one is claiming that their children threaten the character or purity of our communities.

The surrounding Monsey community generally accepts a basic principle: Jews have the right to live, daven and build institutions wherever they may legally do so.

But that principle must work both ways.

New Square cannot insist that its followers may expand throughout the surrounding region while demanding that the surrounding region remain frozen a mile away from its borders.

It cannot celebrate new Skver communities inside other neighborhoods while describing other Jews moving near New Square as a spiritual danger.

It cannot say, “Stay away from us,” while steadily moving closer to everyone else.

That is not isolation. It is a one-way policy of control.

Choose One Standard

New Square’s leadership must choose.

Either living among the broader frum community is acceptable, in which case the entire justification for the mile policy collapses.

Or living among other frum communities is genuinely dangerous, in which case New Square leadership should explain why it is encouraging families, shuls and schools to expand throughout greater Monsey.

They cannot reasonably claim both.

Skver families are welcome to live among us. They are welcome to establish shuls among us. They are welcome to educate their children among us.

But the same right must be extended to everyone else.

The original letter should be withdrawn. The mile policy should end. And the families harmed by it deserve acknowledgment and an apology.

Until then, each new Skver outpost will expose the same glaring contradiction:

The mile only runs one way.

Binyomin Ribiat

A remarkable celebration of Torah and achdus took place this week in Kerestir, Hungary, as more than 150 talmidim of the newly established Satmar Kibbutz Yeshiva concluded a European chizuk journey with a festive Siyum HaShas held in the restored bais medrash of Rav Yeshaya’le of Kerestir zt”l.

The yeshiva, located in Monsey, was founded earlier this year by the Satmar Rebbeto provide a full-time Torah framework for older bochurim who graduated from the Satmar Yeshiva in Queens. The Rebbe has reportedly made the project one of his highest priorities, viewing it as especially close to his heart.

Today, the yeshiva is home to more than 150 older bochurim who have chosen to continue intensive Torah learning in a structured yeshiva environment tailored to their stage of life.

Leading the delegation throughout the European trip was the Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Yaakov Ber Teitelbaum, Av Beis Din of Sighet-Boro Park and a son of the Satmar Rebbe, who accompanied the talmidim during the entire journey.

The highlight of the trip was the stop in Kerestir, where the talmidim established a temporary yeshiva in the recently restored bais medrash of Rav Yeshaya’le of Kerestir. The restoration project, led by descendants of the tzaddik through “Reb Yeshaya’le’s House,” is nearing completion, and the talmidim held regular sedorim there throughout their stay.

The Siyum HaShas itself took place in the “Heichal Avraham Shmuel Samet,” a hall donated by philanthropist Reb Yechezkel Dovid Berkowitz, one of the prominent supporters of Satmar. The event also served as a moving display of unity between different Chassidic courts and the Satmar community.

On the evening before the siyum, the Toldos Aharon Rebbe visited the “Reb Yeshaya’le’s House” complex, operated by the Rubin family, descendants of Rav Yeshaya’le. While touring the site, the Rebbe spent several minutes studying a display listing the masechtos learned by the yeshiva’s talmidim. He inquired about the new yeshiva, learned about its focus on older bochurim and its learning schedule, and expressed admiration for both the scope of the Torah learning and the vision behind the initiative.

The following day, the Toldos Aharon Rebbe made an unexpected appearance at the Siyum HaShas. He spoke with Harav Yaakov Ber Teitelbaum and then joined him in a joyous dance to the accompaniment of the orchestra, delighting the hundreds of participants gathered for the celebration.

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism MK Uri Maklev said Thursday that he would not be surprised if Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s first move after the next election is to try forming a coalition with Gadi Eisenkot instead of the Chareidi parties, stressing that the Chareidi bloc is independent and will act according to its own interests.

Speaking in an interview with Avi Moskoff and Avi Gadolovitch on Kol Berama Radio’s “One in the Afternoon” program, Maklev said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Netanyahu’s first attempt is to form a government with Eisenkot. Netanyahu’s first concern is Netanyahu. He is not committed to the bloc. We will do what’s best for us—we are a bloc unto ourselves.”

Maklev also appeared to suggest that new Chareidi political factions are receiving significant financial backing from undisclosed sources, hinting that more information could eventually become public.

“The day will come when people will know where the major funding came from. I know where the money is coming from. Once that becomes known, there will be no need to discuss all these other things,” he said, without providing further details.

Turning to Israel’s High Court of Justice, which recently struck down legislation freezing the arrests of yeshiva students over the military draft, Maklev defended the coalition’s decision to advance the measure despite anticipating a legal challenge.

“Bringing the arrests law forward was not a mistake. We knew we were heading for a confrontation with the High Court. Every law the High Court strikes down undermines the court’s own legitimacy,” he said.

Maklev added that he was not advocating defying the court’s rulings but sharply criticized what he described as judicial overreach.

“I never said not to obey the High Court—we’re not anarchists. But if the High Court acts unlawfully, then the police should summon them for questioning,” he said.

The UTJ lawmaker also reserved harsh criticism for the Religious Zionism Party, accusing it of contributing to tensions surrounding the enlistment of yeshiva students.

“When Religious Zionism says, ‘We’re not opposed to Torah study, but it’s possible to do both,’ that is the statement that created confusion and fueled the greatest incitement,” Maklev said. “As a party, Religious Zionism has been the most problematic member of this coalition.”

{Matzav.com}

Newly released recordings have sparked criticism after an Israeli judge was heard making remarks perceived as mocking Chareidi witnesses during court proceedings. The witnesses filed a formal complaint, alleging the comments reflected prejudice against the Chareidi community, but the complaint was ultimately closed after the judge apologized and judicial authorities accepted her explanation.

The recordings, aired by Israel’s Channel 14, feature Hadera Magistrate’s Court Judge Yifat Unger-Biton addressing two Chareidi witnesses in what they described as a dismissive and insulting manner during a hearing.

In one recording, the judge tells a witness, “Sir, you speak at lightning speed. I’m saying that you’re used to going into tefillos at the shul and finishing them very quickly. You race through the prayers at a crazy pace. Nobody besides you can even understand the prayers… But here we speak slowly. We need to understand what you’re saying.”

In another exchange from the same case, the judge asks a different witness, “Is this your affidavit? This tzetel (Yiddish for ‘note’) that you brought with you?” The witness replied, “You call it a tzetel, but for us it’s a significant document.”

The two witnesses subsequently filed a complaint with Israel’s Commissioner for Complaints Against Judges, Justice Asher Kula, arguing that the judge’s remarks demonstrated bias against Chareidim, demeaned both them and their religious practices, and undermined confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality.

In her response, Judge Unger-Biton acknowledged that she may have chosen her words poorly but insisted she had no intention of offending the witnesses. She said she was attempting to speak in terms that would be familiar to them and offered an apology for her remarks.

After reviewing her response, Justice Kula decided to close the complaint. In his written decision, he stated, “Even if the judge’s explanations are correct… a judge must always be careful with his or her words and pay attention to how they may be perceived from an objective standpoint. The judge did the right thing by apologizing in her response for her remarks to the witnesses.”

The report also noted that this was not the first time Judge Unger-Biton had come under scrutiny over recorded courtroom comments. According to the report, another recording surfaced in 2019 in which she questioned one of the parties during a hearing using language that also drew public attention.

In a statement, the Judicial Authority’s spokesperson said, “In her response to the Commissioner for Complaints Against Judges, the judge apologized for her remarks, and the commissioner determined that the matter had been fully addressed.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police have arrested a man suspected of vandalizing the headquarters of Channel 12 News in Tel Aviv by hurling rocks at the building’s entrance and leaving behind a threatening letter apparently directed at journalists and public officials. Authorities said the investigation was conducted jointly with the Shin Bet security agency.

According to police, the suspect is a man in his 40s from Ramat Gan. He was taken into custody on Thursday by detectives from the Tel Aviv District’s Central Unit on suspicion of making threats against members of the media and public figures while also causing damage to the entrance of the Channel 12 News offices.

The incident took place on July 28, when officers on routine patrol noticed that the glass entrance door to the office building on Haskalah Boulevard had been shattered. Investigators also discovered a threatening letter near the entrance that was apparently addressed to journalists and public officials.

The investigation, led by the Tel Aviv Central Unit together with the Ayalon investigative unit and the Shin Bet, determined that the suspect allegedly threw rocks at the building’s entrance doors before fleeing the scene, leaving the threatening letter behind.

Police said investigators later identified and located the suspect, who was subsequently arrested and questioned. A court-issued gag order that had previously prohibited publication of details about the investigation was lifted following Thursday’s police announcement.

The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Channel 12’s offices in Tel Aviv. Over the past month, the building’s glass entrance doors have been smashed on two separate occasions. In one of those incidents, surveillance footage reportedly captured a masked individual throwing a brick at the entrance.

In recent months, threatening graffiti and messages directed at Channel 12 journalists have also been sprayed around the news organization’s offices. Police opened investigations into the repeated attacks, culminating in the arrest announced on Thursday.

{Matzav.com}

Visitors to the Galilee community of Migdal experienced an inspiring encounter during the bein hazmanim vacation period when one of the senior roshei yeshiva of the generation, Rav Tzvi Kushelevsky, paid a special visit to the local Chabad House and shared the unwavering faith that sustained him for decades before he merited to have his first child at the age of 89.

Rav Kushelevsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah, has become a symbol of extraordinary faith and trust in Hashem throughout the Torah world after the widely celebrated birth of his first son at an age when doctors had long insisted it was impossible. He was warmly welcomed by the staff of the Migdal Chabad House, which serves local residents and the many vacationers who visit the area, especially during the summer months. The Rosh Yeshiva expressed his deep appreciation for the center’s extensive outreach efforts and encouraged its emissaries in their sacred work.

During the visit, Rav Kushelevsky delivered heartfelt remarks focused on the importance of living with joy and simple faith.

“Everything that Hashem does is only for the good. The main thing is that the Satan confuses people—if there were no Satan, everything would be clear. A person must understand that G-d does only good, and people should always be happy—that is the main thing. There is a wonderful community here that believes with simple faith, the faith that a person feels in his heart that everything G-d does is only for the good.”

Reflecting on the miracle that transformed his own life, the Rosh Yeshiva shared an emotional personal message.

“I waited 89 years to have children. All the greatest doctors and professors said it was impossible, but they don’t know that G-d does whatever He wants, whenever He wants. But a person needs merit—and this is the merit: believing that everything G-d does is for the good. You have to bring that into your heart and into your mind, and come to recognize how much G-d loves every one of us. He isn’t interested in all the professors; He is interested only in the Jew who believes and knows that everything is good. What we think is nothing. G-d does only good, and even if you don’t see it now, faith itself will transform everything for the good, and through our faith, the Messiah will also come.”

Those in attendance said the Rosh Yeshiva’s words left a profound impression on the packed gathering at the Chabad House.

The uplifting event concluded with residents and visitors joining Rav Kushelevsky in singing “Your Kindness Never Ends,” offering thanks to Hashem for His countless blessings and praying for salvation for both the Jewish people as a whole and for individuals in need.

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{Matzav.com}

Prosecutors have filed a chilling indictment alleging that Binyamin Yosef Chaim Friedrich carefully planned the murder of Rav Amos Guetta zt”l, entering the Rav’s room under the pretense of wanting to daven at his bedside before allegedly stabbing the incapacitated rov to death. He now faces charges of aggravated intentional murder, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a knife.

The State Attorney’s Office submitted the indictment to the Central District Court in Lod, accusing Friedrich of intentionally murdering Rav Amos Guetta. In addition to the murder charge, prosecutors also accuse him of aggravated assault and illegally possessing a knife.

According to the indictment, Rav Guetta was in extremely fragile health at the time of the attack. The beloved rov was bedridden, connected to medical equipment, required constant care, and was legally recognized as a helpless person.

Prosecutors allege that Friedrich made the decision ahead of time to murder the Rav. According to the indictment, he took a knife with a 21-centimeter blade from the yeshiva kitchen, concealed it inside his pants, and arrived at the Rav’s home at approximately 5:39 a.m.

The indictment states that Friedrich asked the Rav’s caregiver, Yaakov, for permission to enter the room, explaining that he wished to recite Tehillim beside the Rav’s bed. After Yaakov allowed him inside, the defendant allegedly stood near the foot of the bed, quietly recited a brief prayer for several moments, then suddenly drew the concealed knife and stabbed Rav Guetta in the area between his chest and abdomen.

According to prosecutors, when Yaakov rushed to stop the attack, a violent struggle broke out during which the caregiver injured his hand. Despite the attempt to restrain him, Friedrich allegedly continued the assault, stabbing Rav Guetta three additional times in the abdomen before the knife slipped from his grasp.

The indictment further alleges that Friedrich fled the home, leaving the gravely wounded Rav lying in his bed. As Yaakov pursued him toward the exit, the defendant allegedly turned to face the caregiver, raised his fists in a threatening manner, and then escaped.

Prosecutors have charged Friedrich with aggravated intentional murder, contending that the attack was premeditated and carried out against a victim who was legally incapable of defending himself. He also faces charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a knife.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has reportedly sent a letter to the White House outlining a proposal for a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, appealing directly to President Donald Trump with an offer that includes a gradual disarmament in exchange for sweeping Israeli concessions. Israeli officials, however, have dismissed the proposal as a tactic designed to delay military action rather than a genuine peace initiative.

According to a report aired Thursday by Israel’s Channel 13 News, Hamas is seeking a 10- to 15-year “hudna,” or extended truce, in the Gaza Strip. The report comes nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, as diplomatic efforts surrounding Gaza continue to intensify.

The report says Hamas leaders drafted a letter in English and delivered it to the White House. In the message, the terror group tells President Trump it is willing to abide by an agreement and gradually disarm, while requesting a prolonged ceasefire under which Israel would halt military operations in Gaza, end targeted killings of senior Hamas figures, and begin a phased withdrawal of IDF forces from the Strip.

Israeli officials quickly rejected the proposal, characterizing it as Hamas “spin.” They said the terms bear little resemblance to the framework negotiated under President Trump’s plan last October.

Israeli sources said the proposal “has no chance” of being accepted, calling it a “desperate attempt” by Hamas to buy additional time. According to those officials, Hamas is chiefly trying to avoid being found in violation of Trump’s agreement, since doing so would give Israel grounds to restart military operations in Gaza.

Earlier Thursday, Channel 13 released additional details about the proposed arrangement. Under the reported framework, Hamas would gradually surrender some of its weapons over several years, but would stop short of relinquishing its heavy arsenal.

The proposal also envisions Arab countries providing millions of dollars in “retirement compensation” to Hamas officials who would step aside and be replaced by a technocratic governing committee.

In exchange, Israel would reportedly agree to a lengthy ceasefire that would include ending targeted strikes against Hamas leaders in Gaza. While the IDF would remain along the “Yellow Line” security corridor, it would gradually withdraw from certain other areas.

American, regional, and Palestinian officials told Channel 13 that the proposal amounts to a “fiction,” arguing that Hamas is unlikely to hand over all of its weapons to a third party it does not trust. They also noted that the document makes no commitment to reveal or dismantle Hamas’s vast tunnel network.

A senior Israeli official stressed, “The issue of Gaza did not come up at all during the meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of all weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarization of the Strip as a precondition for any process.”

“The 15-point document in question does not adequately address these demands, and Israel has conveyed its reservations on the matter to envoy Tony Blair. There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is fully disarmed and the Strip is completely demilitarized.”

Channel 13 also reported earlier Thursday that two regional sources confirmed advanced negotiations are underway regarding a Hamas declaration that would relinquish control of Gaza and transfer authority to an International Stabilization Force while agreeing to disarm.

Those sources said discussions are also focusing on a formal signing ceremony in Egypt that could take place within the next several days.

The negotiations are reportedly being held in Cairo, where a senior Hamas delegation is meeting under the auspices of Egyptian intelligence, with Qatar and Turkey serving as mediators.

One regional source said only what were described as “minor” issues remain unresolved and that the Trump administration is pushing for an announcement that would allow the process to move ahead. According to that source, Hamas is prepared to transfer its weapons to a third party other than the Palestinian Authority, with an announcement potentially coming within days.

The recent diplomatic breakthrough is said to be the result of significant pressure from Egypt and Qatar, largely aimed at satisfying the White House. A signing ceremony could reportedly take place as early as today or tomorrow if the remaining disputes—including Israel’s authority to resume military operations and the powers granted to the stabilization force—are resolved.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir blasted the emerging proposal.

“With Nazis, you speak only through the sights of a rifle-and in no other way,” Ben Gvir said. “You do not commit to ending the targeted killings of terrorists or sign agreements with the devil, who has made our destruction his banner-not through a third party, not through mediators, and not through any other entity. Period.”

“After the October 7 massacre, the Prime Minister must make clear even to our closest friends that the only solution in Gaza that Israel is willing to support is encouraging emigration and destroying Hamas-no other solution.”

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman also denounced the proposal.

“Any agreement with Hamas is a return to the same conception that led the State of Israel to the October 7 massacre. Instead of agreements with Hamas, Hamas must be destroyed,” he said.

On Sunday, Israel’s Security Cabinet unanimously approved the entry of the International Stabilization Force into Gaza, an initiative launched by President Trump. Ben Gvir cast the lone dissenting vote.

A senior Israeli official said, “The initial approval for the International Stabilization Force was established in Trump’s 20-point plan, which led to the release of all the hostages. Israel insists that the IDF will continue to hold the Yellow Line, and there will be no withdrawal whatsoever until Hamas has been completely disarmed and the Gaza Strip fully demilitarized.”

“At this stage, the force consists of approximately 200 personnel from friendly countries such as Uganda and Morocco,” the official said.

The official further stated, “Today, the Security Cabinet approved granting immunity under the Law on Immunities for International Organizations to the ISF, which will operate in full coordination with the IDF in areas beyond the Yellow Line that are not under IDF control.”

“In practice, the entry of any ISF personnel will require the specific approval of the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the Foreign Minister. The Cabinet also determined that Israel will decide which countries may contribute forces. Only countries with which Israel has peace agreements and that do not act against the State of Israel or its officials in the international arena will be permitted to participate.”

{Matzav.com}

After nearly two months of intensive medical treatment, encouraging news emerged regarding the condition of the renowned mekubal, Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohen Kook. Family members reported a significant improvement in his condition, while stressing that he remains in need of continued tefillos.

According to the update released from the Rav’s home, he is now breathing on his own after approximately two months during which he was unable to do so without assistance.

Despite this encouraging development, the family emphasized that the public should continue davening intensely, particularly for the Rav’s left hand and fingers, whose condition remains a source of serious concern. They also reported that, at present, the Rav is still unable to see or speak, although he is able to hear those around him.

Members of the household and close associates are urging Klal Yisroel to continue pouring out heartfelt tefillos and supplications for the complete and speedy recovery of Rav Chizkiyahu Dov ben Shoshana.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. investigators increasingly believe Iran may be responsible for a cyberattack that disrupted dozens of municipal water systems across Minnesota this week, according to officials familiar with the ongoing investigation.

The assessment was first reported by The New York Times, which cited three state officials who spoke anonymously after being briefed on the probe. While the investigation has not reached a final conclusion, authorities reportedly believe the evidence points toward Iranian involvement.

Federal officials say the methods used in the intrusion, combined with the lack of any ransom demand, suggest the operation was designed to cause disruption rather than generate money. Those characteristics have led analysts to tentatively attribute the attack to Iranian hackers.

The FBI said several indicators are consistent with previous Iranian cyber activity, including Tehran’s growing interest in America’s water infrastructure.

“The FBI is aware of recent public reporting around Water and Wastewater (WWS) sectors,” they wrote in a social media post. “The FBI is actively engaged with victims.”

Investigators also believe the hackers were focused on interrupting critical services instead of seeking a financial payoff.

Although officials confirmed that no drinking water was contaminated, cybersecurity experts say the incident had the potential to become far more dangerous. Metro State cybersecurity professor Faisal Kalim explained that the attackers appeared to focus on operational technology—the systems responsible for controlling essential infrastructure such as pumps and electrical equipment.

“OT deals with something called the industrial control system that actually controls these water pumps, wells, power sectors, and so on,” says Kalim.

Authorities continue to examine the full scope of the breach. Minnesota IT Services said the investigation remains ongoing as officials evaluate the systems impacted in roughly 30 communities throughout the state.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu held a private face-to-face meeting earlier this week in an effort to address mounting disagreements over U.S. policy toward Iran and broader Middle East strategy. While officials from both governments acknowledged that the conversation was unusually candid, they described it as constructive and said both sides remain committed to working together.

The meeting took place at Blair House after months of private friction between the two leaders over the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts with Iran and Netanyahu’s approach to the ongoing regional conflict, according to Axios.

An Israeli official said Netanyahu used the meeting to express concern over Vance’s recent public remarks criticizing the Israeli government and questioning Israel’s standing within the Republican Party.

“It was a frank and candid conversation,” the official said.

An American official echoed that description, calling the discussion “direct.”

Vance’s office declined to comment publicly on the meeting. However, another U.S. official said the vice president and the Israeli prime minister held a “cordial and productive conversation about Middle East issues that are important to both countries.”

“The vice president and the prime minister agreed to continue pursuing opportunities for Israel and the United States to cooperate in areas of mutual interest and shared goals,” the U.S. official said, emphasizing that the meeting was not hostile and that the two leaders continue to maintain a productive working relationship.

Vance has become one of the leading voices within President Donald Trump’s administration advocating continued diplomatic engagement with Iran, particularly after the ceasefire reached on April 8.

He also played a prominent role in defending the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, an agreement that Netanyahu reportedly opposed behind closed doors while refraining from publicly attacking it in hopes it would ultimately collapse.

That agreement eventually fell apart.

In recent months, the policy divide between Washington and Jerusalem has become increasingly public.

During June, Vance warned Israeli officials against publicly criticizing the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts, saying members of Israel’s government should not attack “the only powerful ally” they have.

Appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast in July, Vance went further, alleging that certain members of the Israeli government were engaged in an influence campaign designed to push the United States away from diplomacy and toward prolonging the conflict.

During that same interview, he also asserted that Jeffrey Epstein had connections to “the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.”

Officials familiar with the relationship said Netanyahu has privately objected to several of Vance’s public comments, including claims that the Israeli premier encouraged opposition to the Iran agreement and failed to demonstrate sufficient loyalty to President Trump.

At the same time, there have been accusations that individuals aligned with Netanyahu in both Israeli and American media have sought to politically weaken Vance.

According to officials, this week’s meeting gave both leaders an opportunity to address those disputes directly rather than through public statements.

This was not the first time the two men reportedly clashed behind closed doors. During a telephone conversation in March, Vance challenged Netanyahu’s optimistic assessment of the war, including predictions that Iran’s government was on the verge of a popular uprising that could bring down the regime.

{Matzav.com}

Recent reports from several military correspondents have highlighted what they describe as a sharp increase in Chareidi enlistment in the IDF, attributing the rise to sanctions imposed on the Chareidi community. But critics argue the headline figures tell only part of the story—and may paint a misleading picture of what is actually happening.

At first glance, the reported increase appears to support the Defense Ministry’s claim that mounting pressure is producing results. But before accepting the numbers at face value, critics say one key question must be asked: What exactly is increasing? More importantly, they ask whether even a single additional Chareidi combat soldier has joined the battlefield as a direct result of the sanctions.

Sources familiar with the data contend that the reality behind the statistics is far more complicated. According to those sources, there has been no meaningful increase in the number of Chareidi combat troops. Instead, they argue, the military is grouping together a wide range of enlistment programs under the broad heading of “Chareidi recruitment,” even though many of those tracks do not address the operational manpower shortages the IDF has repeatedly emphasized in recent months.

For example, part of the reported increase stems from hundreds of recruits entering Chareidi hesder yeshivos. While these young men have officially enlisted, they continue in structured yeshiva programs and do not necessarily become active combat soldiers.

Another portion of the increase comes from young men who, in previous years, would likely have chosen national civilian service. Following the closure of many civilian service options for the Chareidi public, they have instead been redirected into other military frameworks that are now being counted as enlistments.

The figures also include specialized programs such as Kodkod and other technological and vocational tracks. From a Chareidi perspective, participation in these programs represents a significant departure from traditional norms. At the same time, critics argue that the military’s own public messaging has centered on an urgent need for combat troops—not expanded enrollment in non-combat or support roles.

In other words, critics say the IDF tells the public it urgently needs additional fighters, but when seeking to demonstrate that sanctions are working, it counts rear-echelon assignments, technological training programs, soldiers who are not necessarily intended for combat, and recruits transferred from civilian service frameworks.

According to the article, that is the central problem. When officials seek to justify increased pressure on the Torah world, they point to a shortage of combat soldiers. But when they present evidence that the policy is succeeding, they count nearly every Chareidi who enters any type of military framework.

Critics argue that this creates a narrative favorable to the defense establishment. The public is told that Chareidi enlistment is rising, while policymakers are led to believe the sanctions are beginning to achieve their intended effect. Yet if the numbers do not reflect a genuine increase in combat personnel, they contend, the statistics amount largely to an exercise in presentation rather than proof of success.

The article concludes that the public deserves a more precise accounting: How many additional Chareidim have actually joined combat units as a result of the sanctions? Not how many were formally inducted, entered technological programs, or shifted from civilian service into another framework—but how many new combat soldiers have truly been added.

Until that figure is released transparently, the article argues, claims of a dramatic rise in Chareidi enlistment should be viewed with caution. There may indeed be an increase in the categories the military has chosen to count, but whether that translates into meeting the operational need the IDF has repeatedly cited remains, according to the article, an open question.

{Matzav.com}

The editorial board of HaDerech, the newspaper affiliated with the Shas movement, launched a blistering attack on Israel’s emerging political parties and several prominent politicians, arguing that excluding the Chareidi parties from government has become the unifying goal of a new generation of self-described “value right” leaders.

Published under the headline, “Whoever Distresses Israel Becomes a Leader,” the editorial contends that the common denominator among the new political initiatives is a determination to form a governing coalition without the participation of the Chareidi parties.

“In these days, new parties are springing up like mushrooms after the rain, such as those of Trooper, Hendel, Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, Ayelet Shaked and others like them. And what are they offering?” the editorial asks. According to the paper, “These are ‘value right’ figures who shifted toward the center solely to detach themselves from the bloc aligned with the Chareidim. ‘We will establish a Zionist government without Chareidim and Arabs,’ they pledge, while declaring Yair Golan to be a worthy and preferred partner. Indeed, a worthy and principled partner for the people of the ‘value right.'”

The editorial also argues that Gadi Eisenkot’s political rise has not been fueled by a new diplomatic vision or economic platform.

“If we try to trace the reason for Gadi Eisenkot’s success—from a gray and nearly marginal political figure to someone leading the left-wing bloc and claiming the mantle of prime minister—we will not find any new diplomatic or economic doctrine, an inspiring platform or a revolutionary agenda that should capture the nation’s heart,” the editorial states.

Instead, the paper claims Eisenkot’s popularity stems from a different source.

“The primary reason for his success is simple: he promises to fulfill his voters’ instinct of hatred toward the other bloc and bring about its downfall.”

The editorial further argues that Eisenkot “doesn’t have to do much,” asserting that it is enough for him “to build his electoral prospects on hatred toward the Chareidim and wave it proudly.”

The newspaper also criticized former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, accusing him of intensifying anti-Chareidi rhetoric in an effort to revive his political standing.

“And then comes Bennett, the man who already reached the summit and experiences political decline every week—and goes crazy. Hatred of Chareidim? I know how to do that even better. And just like that, his entire platform becomes a horrifying campaign of incitement against Torah learners.”

The editorial also took aim at Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan.

“And what about Liberman? After all, he was the one who invented the method when he sent the Chareidim to the garbage dump in wheelbarrows. That man certainly doesn’t need to be taught how to incite or cultivate hatred toward the Chareidi public. And Yair Golan? Well, he’s the one who ‘identifies processes,’ who called the believing public ‘eaters of death,’ and now also promises to deal with the ‘parasites’.”

At the heart of the editorial is the claim that opposition to the Chareidi community has become one of the few issues capable of uniting much of Israel’s political establishment.

“Thus, the Chareidi public has become the new consensus in Israeli politics. Nearly all party leaders, who frequently speak loftily about national unity, are united on one thing: unity without Chareidim. Hatred of the Chareidi public has become the most sought-after political commodity on the market.”

The editorial goes on to cite the teaching of Chazal, “Whoever distresses Israel becomes a leader,” arguing that while the statement historically referred to Israel’s enemies, there have also been internal opponents throughout Jewish history who sought to weaken Torah and those who dedicate themselves to its study.

The piece concludes by urging the Chareidi public to remain steadfast in its faith and commitment to Torah despite the political climate.

“We have nothing to do but continue on our path, with faith and trust, knowing that ‘Hashem will fight for you, and you shall remain silent.’ That is how it has been throughout the generations, and that is how it will be this time as well.”

{Matzav.com}

A moving and inspiring gathering took place Wednesday evening in the main beis medrash of the Gerer Chassidus in Yerushalayim, where approximately 1,400 bochurim were recognized for successfully mastering hundreds of dafim of Gemara as part of the annual “Mezumanim Biyado” Torah program. The Gerer Rebbe personally bentched the participants and presented each bochur with the program’s traditional apples in recognition of their dedication to Torah study.

The annual event, organized by the Gerer Institutions Association, is held each year during bein hazmanim to honor bochurim from Gerer’s yeshivos and mesivtos who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in Torah learning. This year, approximately 1,400 participants were tested on anywhere from 300 to more than 1,000 dafim of Gemara.

The “Mezumanim Biyado” initiative is built around a system of surprise examinations conducted three times each year. The format encourages participants to remain consistently engaged in their learning and prepared at all times to be tested on the material they have studied.

A highlight of the evening was a public examination administered by the distinguished examiner, Rav Yechiel Fishoff, who questioned the bochurim on numerous masechtos from throughout Shas. The participants’ rapid and precise responses drew widespread admiration from the thousands in attendance, including the roshei yeshiva who participated in the event.

Addressing the Gerer Rebbe, Rav Fishoff praised the extraordinary level of Torah knowledge displayed by the bochurim, comparing their mastery of foundational Torah knowledge to that of the great Torah giants of previous generations. He also noted that, according to the head of the program, Rav Nechemiah Alter, approximately 500 additional bochurim joined the initiative over the past year alone. In recent years, the program has become a model emulated by other communities throughout the Torah world.

The emotional high point of the evening came as all 1,400 bochurim filed past the Rebbe in an orderly procession to receive the traditional apple from his hand. As he distributed the apples, the Rebbe offered each participant words of blessing, saying, “Dear bochurim, may the Holy One, Blessed is He, help that this should be in the category of continually increasing, and may you merit great success in the study of Torah.”

The event concluded with a festive seudas mitzvah honoring the participants.

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{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is calling for Dr. Anthony Fauci to face contempt charges, be prosecuted for perjury, and ultimately serve jail time after the longtime public health official invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during Wednesday’s Senate hearing on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Years from now, they’ll look back and say, ‘What collective madness overtook this country?’” Cruz told Fox News Digital.

Cruz accused Fauci of misleading both Congress and the American public for years, pointing to newly released diary entries that he claims contradict Fauci’s public statements.

“I think Anthony Fauci has had contempt for Congress and contempt for the American people for decades,” he said. “His diary shows that he deliberately lied to the American people over and over and over again.”

The senator made those remarks after Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul announced plans to pursue contempt proceedings against Fauci following his repeated refusal to answer questions during the hearing by invoking his constitutional protection against self-incrimination.

“Dr. Fauci ought to think about what it says about the end of his career, that what he will be remembered for the most is pleading the Fifth more than 100 times,” Cruz said.

“He’s been the most damaging bureaucrat in the history of America.”

Cruz and Fauci have clashed for years over the federal government’s handling of the pandemic, particularly regarding Fauci’s statements about the origins of COVID-19 and whether he was truthful with Congress and the American people.

Referring to Fauci’s recently released diary, Cruz argued that it reveals a significant disconnect between Fauci’s private observations and his public messaging.

“In his diary, he wrote early on that it was clear that the COVID virus did not come from the wet market in Wuhan, and then he turned around and said exactly the opposite thing on national television,” Cruz said.

According to the released diary entries, Fauci acknowledged that scientists believed a laboratory origin for the virus—including the possibility that it had been deliberately introduced—was worthy of further investigation. Cruz argued that Fauci later minimized those possibilities in his public comments.

The Texas senator also accused Fauci of playing a central role in shutting down schools during the pandemic, saying the diary entries contradict Fauci’s repeated public denials.

According to Cruz, Fauci wrote that he persuaded officials in New York and California to close their school systems, despite later telling interviewers and testifying before the House Oversight Committee that he “did not close the schools.”

“In his diary, he brags about convincing Democrats in New York and California to shut schools down, and yet he goes on TV and says, ‘Oh, I wasn’t for shutdowns,’” Cruz said.

“The school shutdowns, which Fauci bragged that he was responsible for, may well be the single most destructive public policy step we’ve seen in decades. That learning loss will stick with those kids the rest of their lives when they’re 90 years old.

“They will still be suffering the consequences of Anthony Fauci’s corrupt and dishonest shutdowns.

“The fact that he knew he was lying to the American people — he should be held in contempt, he should be prosecuted for perjury, and he should go to jail.”

{Matzav.com}

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Two influential Democrats with deep ties to the Clinton and Obama administrations publicly broke with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani this week, criticizing both his controversial tax proposal and his positions on Israel. Former Clinton adviser Mark Penn blasted the mayor’s property tax plan, while former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel revealed details of what he said was a private confrontation with Mamdani over Israel.

The criticism is especially significant because it comes from longtime Democratic power brokers rather than Republican critics, targeting two issues that have become central to Mamdani’s political identity: his progressive economic agenda and his views on Israel.

Fox News Digital reached out to Penn, Emanuel and Mamdani’s office seeking comment.

Penn, a veteran Democratic strategist who served as a pollster and adviser to President Bill Clinton, sharply criticized Mamdani’s proposed pied-à-terre tax after the city released a searchable database identifying property owners who could be affected.

Writing in a lengthy post on X, Penn argued that the city’s property valuation system had expanded the proposal far beyond what had originally been presented, saying nearly one million property owners could now be swept into the tax instead of the approximately 30,000 luxury homeowners previously described as the intended targets.

“The $5 million figure was a fake,” Penn wrote, arguing the city’s valuation system had improperly classified properties and would force homeowners to prove they should not be taxed.

Penn also warned that the proposal could drive down property values, discourage investment in New York City and even invite constitutional challenges.

Meanwhile, Emanuel said during an appearance on the Unholy Podcast that he spent roughly 90 minutes meeting privately with Mamdani, where he challenged the mayor over his rhetoric concerning Israel.

Although Emanuel said he supported portions of Mamdani’s domestic agenda, including his childcare proposals, he objected to the mayor’s past use of the slogan “from the river to the sea.”

“I know where there’s a line. You don’t,” Emanuel recalled telling Mamdani.

Emanuel argued that both calls for a “Greater Israel” and the slogan “from the river to the sea” would only fuel “perpetual conflict.”

After Emanuel’s comments spread online, Mamdani communications director Anna Bahr disputed his account on social media.

“Can confirm this …. did not happen,” Bahr wrote on X in response to a post summarizing Emanuel’s remarks.

Bahr’s statement did not make clear whether she was denying that the meeting took place or disputing Emanuel’s version of the conversation.

Emanuel has also taken aim at the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in recent days. In a separate post on X, he argued that Democrats should focus on winning competitive elections instead of embracing what he described as ideological causes.

“You can be focused on winning tough races, flipping red seats blue. Or you can be focused on abolishing prisons and… the Senate and Supreme Court? You can’t do both,” Emanuel wrote. “I’m for winning this November and ending Trump’s corruption — and I’m also for putting an end to all the distractions from the DSA.”

{Matzav.com}