A large fragment from an intercepted projectile struck a residential home in the city of Lod last night, causing major damage to the structure but leaving the family inside unharmed after they followed safety instructions and quickly moved to a protected area.
The incident occurred shortly after an air raid siren sounded. According to reports, the family immediately evacuated their apartment and moved into the building’s stairwell, which was the safest available location in the limited time they had to take cover.
Only seconds later, a heavy interception fragment crashed into the home.
Lod Mayor Yair Revivo arrived at the scene later in the evening to support the family and assess the damage caused by the impact.
Revivo said, “This case is a sharp reminder to all of us how much the Home Front Command’s instructions save lives. The members of the family showed exemplary responsibility, and that is what saved them today.”
Officials from the Lod municipality and the Home Front Command again urged residents to strictly follow safety guidelines during alerts.
In a statement, authorities said, “Continue to follow the instructions and reach a protected area in time. Remaining in the protected space for 10 minutes is critical to preventing injuries from shrapnel and interception debris.”
{Matzav.com}
An Israeli reservist has been suspended from duty after being filmed vandalizing a memorial dedicated to the former Palestinian Authority chairman, arch terrorist Yasser Arafat, in the Samaria region. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized the decision and called for it to be reconsidered.
According to a report by I24NEWS journalist Shlomi Heller, the reservist, who serves in a battalion of the Menashe Brigade, was suspended from reserve service after footage circulated showing him damaging the monument in the Palestinian village of Zababida in Samaria. The memorial commemorates Arafat, whom many in Israel hold responsible for numerous terrorist attacks.
Ben Gvir responded strongly to the suspension, arguing that the move was misguided. He said, “The decision to suspend the reserve fighter who smashed the picture of the arch-terrorist and mass murderer Yasser Arafat — whose hands are stained with the blood of many Jews — is, in my view, a mistaken decision.”
The minister added that the soldier is currently serving during wartime, noting that, in his words, “his brothers and sisters were slaughtered and murdered.”
Ben Gvir said the act reflected “the pain, anger, and sense of justice of someone who is fighting for the people of Israel.”
He further argued that suspending a reservist under such circumstances was “a step too far,” and urged authorities to reconsider the decision.
{Matzav.com}
Senior envoys from President Donald Trump’s administration are expected to travel to Israel this week as the United States and Israel continue their coordinated military campaign against Iran.
The visit would mark the first such trip since the launch of Operation “Roaring Lion,” which began more than a week ago and has involved extensive joint strikes against Iranian targets.
Despite the close cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem during the conflict, no in-person meetings between senior officials from the two countries have taken place since the fighting began.
However, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported Sunday evening that meetings are expected to occur this week with the arrival of Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with the president’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Kushner and Witkoff, both of whom have been involved in managing the war effort and coordinating closely with Israel, are expected to arrive on Tuesday. During the visit, they are scheduled to meet with senior Israeli political leaders.
The report noted that the two officials may also bring messages from President Trump.
It was also reported over the past week that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have been speaking daily since the start of the war in order to coordinate the next stages of the military campaign.
{Matzav.com}