Feed aggregator

The IDF announced that the second hostage whose remains were recently recovered is Idan Shtivi, who was kidnapped from the Tel Gama area.

“In a complex IDF operation conducted this week, and directed by the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters in the Intelligence Directorate, and the ISA, the body of the deceased hostage Idan Shtivi was recovered from the Gaza Strip, along with the body of the deceased hostage Ilan Weiss,” the IDF confirmed.

Weiss, age 55, was killed on October 7, 2023, when he attempted to reach the weapons storage facility in his home community of Kibbutz Be’eri. His body was then taken into Gaza by terrorists.

“The complex rescue operation was carried out by IDF troops of the Southern Command, in coordination with the IDF Intelligence Directorate and other special forces. The operation was made possible due to precise intelligence from the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters in the Intelligence Directorate, the Intelligence Directorate, and the ISA.

“Idan Shtivi was abducted from the Tel Gama area and brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists after acting to rescue and evacuate others from the Nova music festival on October 7th, 2023. He was 28 years old at the time of his death.

“Following an identification process conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine, along with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters notified his family.

“The IDF and ISA extend their condolences to the families and will continue every effort possible to bring all the hostages home.”

The Hostages Families Forum described Idan as someone who cared deeply for animals, especially dogs, and noted that he was preparing to begin his second year of studies in sustainability and government at Reichman University. They added that “Idan always put others first and made sacrifices for those around him.”

“On October 7th, Idan arrived early in the morning at the Nova Festival to photograph his friends who were performing and leading workshops, but never made it inside. When the attack began, Idan helped a young man and woman he had just met escape from the site — a selfless act that ultimately led to his abduction.”

He leaves behind his parents, Eli and Dalit, his siblings Omri, Hila, and Ilin, as well as his partner Stav.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was the first to announce his return, stating, “In a special operation carried out by the IDF and the ISA in the Gaza Strip, the body of Idan Shtivi was returned. Following the completion of the identification process at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, his return to Israel was permitted for publication.”

“Idan was a student in sustainability and government and a brave person: On 7 October 2023, he participated in the Nova festival. When the terrorist attack began, he acted to save many fellow participants and help them escape, and was murdered in the process. His body was abducted to Gaza by the Hamas terrorist organization.

“Together with the entire people of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Shtivi family.”

President Isaac Herzog also commented, saying, “Idan Shtivi came to celebrate at the Nova Festival on October 7. He was murdered while helping others fleeing the terrorist onslaught, and his body was held hostage in Gaza. In a joint IDF-ISA operation, he has now been brought home for a dignified burial.”

“I hope this will bring a measure of comfort to his beloved parents, Eli and Dalit, and to his siblings, who have shown remarkable strength in their determined struggle for his return.

“These moments of deep sorrow remind us of one truth: Hamas’ crimes are crimes against humanity. The world must act with moral clarity and press for the release of all the hostages. Every last one.”

He continued, “I reiterate my appreciation for the IDF and ISA for their determined and daring action. As of now, 207 hostages – 148 of them alive – have been returned to Israel.”

“We will continue to take relentless and determined action, in various ways, to bring back all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”

The Hostages Families Forum issued a statement as well: “Our hearts are with the Shtivi family today. Alongside the grief and pain, his return provides some sense of closure for the family and comfort after 694 agonizing days of waiting for his return.”

“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the IDF and security forces who have worked tirelessly with dedication and courage to make Idan’s return possible. We also thank the various professionals who participated in the identification process. The complex identification process that took several days serves as a harsh and painful reminder of the real danger that the remains of those lost may vanish beneath the ruins of Gaza.

“Bringing home the hostages is the only path to national healing and recovery. The people of Israel want to see all hostages returned home: some for rescue and rehabilitation, others for proper burial, through a comprehensive agreement.

“The family requests that their privacy be respected at this time.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The death toll from Israeli strikes on Houthi government officials in Sana’a on Thursday could surpass 50 killed, Saudi Al-Hadath reports.

Around 20 senior Houthi military and political officials were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes on Sana’a Thursday, according to Houthi spokesperson Osama al-Sharmi. Among the dead are Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi, his two deputies, the director of his office, the head of military operations, and several ministers including those of information, education, justice, social affairs and labor, and youth and sports, along with the deputy interior minister.

Anti-government protests over water shortages in Iran continue to spread, as demonstrators in Lowshan City block the entrance to Gilan province with burning tires.

The IDF confirmed that a strike in Sanaa, Yemen, killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi along with other senior leaders of the Houthi terrorist regime.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker states that Trump’s plan to send troops to U.S. cities is aimed at stopping the 2026 election and staying in power, suggesting Trump will claim the election is flawed while already having forces on the ground.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed to resist Trump’s plan to deploy troops to combat crime, declaring that the city does not want tanks on its streets, families torn apart, or residents “disappeared.”

The USS Lake Erie has entered the Caribbean Sea after crossing the Panama Canal, following Trump’s order to move the American warship closer to Venezuela.

U.S. health officials have raised the alarm over a growing mosquito-borne outbreak in southern China, warning travelers of serious risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Guangdong Province, urging Americans to “practice enhanced precautions” amid a surge of chikungunya cases. Foshan city has become the epicenter of the outbreak, with Chinese authorities deploying strict containment measures that some residents have compared to the early days of COVID-19. Thousands have already been infected. Chikungunya is rarely fatal, but it can leave patients battling crippling joint pain that lingers for weeks, months or even years. The virus is transmitted through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes, which thrive in hot, humid climates. Most patients recover within a week, yet older adults, infants and people with chronic health conditions face a heightened risk of long-term complications. Pregnant women, the CDC cautioned, should reconsider travel to outbreak areas, since the virus can in rare cases be passed from mother to child during birth. Globally, chikungunya strikes an estimated 35 million people each year. While the United States has not recorded a locally transmitted case since 2019, officials confirmed 46 travel-related cases so far in 2025. The agency emphasized that there is no cure or specific treatment for the virus, making prevention critical. The CDC urged Americans traveling to Guangdong to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and stay in screened or air-conditioned lodging to avoid mosquito exposure. Two recently approved vaccines are also available in the United States and can provide added protection. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In an historic first, MDY (Mercaz Daf Yomi – Reb Eli Stefansky’s shiur) is releasing a new easy-to-understand English explanation on Maseches Horayos – just in time for the new masechta daf yomi beginning this Wednesday Sep 3rd. (MAKE A SIYUM IN UNDER 2 WEEKS!) The translation, worked upon together with Machon Aleh Zayis, is revolutionary in that it’s the first explanation designed to make the gemara easy to understand the first time around, without having to resort to further research. The gemara is Oz V’Hadar’s revolutionary menukad gemara – making this the first ever English translation of Horayos printed together with a menukad gemara! This brand new gemara can be purchased HERE or can be delivered to your home for FREE by trying Reb Eli Stefansky’s shiur! To get your FREE GEMARA – simply CLICK HERE Even if you don’t need the free gemara – you should join the shiur and change your life! It’s only 13 days!TO GET THE SHIUR DELIVERED DAILY VIA WHATSAPP – CLICK HERE!

The Trump administration is planning to remove nearly 700 Guatemalan children who had come to the U.S. without their parents, according to a letter sent Friday by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. The removals would violate the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s “child welfare mandate and this country’s long-established obligation to these children,” Wyden told Angie Salazar, acting director of the office within the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for migrant children who arrive in the U.S. alone. “Unaccompanied children are some of the most vulnerable children entrusted to the government’s care,” the Democratic senator wrote, asking for the deportation plans to be terminated. “In many cases, these children and their families have had to make the unthinkable choice to face danger and separation in search of safety.” Quoting unidentified whistleblowers, Wyden’s letter said children who do not have a parent or legal guardian as a sponsor or who don’t have an asylum case already underway, “will be forcibly removed from the country.” It is another step in the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement efforts, which include plans to surge officers to Chicago for an immigration crackdown, ramping up deportations and ending protections for people who have had permission to live and work in the United States. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the latest move, which was first reported by CNN. The Guatemalan government declined to comment. “This move threatens to separate children from their families, lawyers, and support systems, to thrust them back into the very conditions they are seeking refuge from, and to disappear vulnerable children beyond the reach of American law and oversight,” Wyden’s letter says. Due to their young age and the trauma unaccompanied immigrant children have often experienced getting to the U.S., their treatment is one of the most sensitive issues in immigration. Advocacy groups already have sued to ask courts to halt new Trump administration vetting procedures for unaccompanied children, saying the changes are keeping families separated longer and are inhumane. In July, the head of Guatemala’s immigration service said the government was looking to repatriate 341 unaccompanied minors who were being held in U.S. facilities. “The idea is to bring them back before they reach 18 years old so that they are not taken to an adult detention center,” Guatemala Immigration Institute Director Danilo Rivera said at the time. He said it would be done at Guatemala’s expense and would be a form of voluntary return. The plan was announced by President Bernardo Arévalo, who said then that the government had a moral and legal obligation to advocate for the children. His comments came days after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Guatemala. Migrant children traveling without their parents or guardians are handed over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement when they are encountered by officials along the U.S.-Mexico border. Once in the U.S., they often live in government-supervised shelters or with foster care families until they can be released to a sponsor — usually a family member — living in the country. They can request asylum, juvenile immigration status or visas for victims of sexual exploitation. The idea of repatriating such a large number of children to their home country raised concerns with […]

Jim O’Neill, a former investor, critic of health regulations and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s deputy, is taking control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following a tumultuous week in which the agency’s director was forced out. O’Neill was picked by President Donald Trump to be the CDC’s interim director, supplanting Susan Monarez, a longtime government scientist. Monarez had been the CDC director for less than a month. Her lawyers said she refused “to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.” O’Neill takes over an agency that has been rocked by firings, resignations and efforts by Kennedy to reshape the nation’s vaccine policies to match his long-standing suspicions about the safety and effectiveness of long-established shots. O’Neill said Friday afternoon in a social media post that he looked forward to working with CDC staff and “announcing additions to the senior leadership in the weeks ahead.” He added that he would continue to serve as HHS deputy. A former associate of billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel, O’Neill previously helped run one of Thiel’s investment funds and later managed several of his other projects. Those included a nonprofit working to develop manmade islands that would float outside U.S. territory, allowing them to experiment with new forms of government. He has no training in medicine or health care and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in humanities. A Washington insider on a team of outsiders O’Neill has kept a markedly lower profile than Trump’s other top health officials, all of whom joined the administration as Washington outsiders. He’s also the only one with experience working at HHS, where he served for six years under President George W. Bush. Those who know him say he’ll likely be tasked with trying to calm the situation at CDC — though it’s unclear what, if any, independence he’ll have from Kennedy. “Jim O’Neill is a health care policy professional and I don’t think anybody can accuse him of being an RFK Jr. sock puppet,” said Peter Pitts, a former FDA official under Bush. “The question becomes whether the role of CDC director becomes a strictly paper tiger position, where the person only does what they’re told to by the secretary.” O’Neill is not closely associated with Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement and its efforts against food dyes, fluoride and ultraprocessed foods. He was also not a major critic of public health measures during the pandemic, unlike Food and Drug Administration chief Marty Makary and other several Trump officials. Although O’Neill did use social media to criticize FDA efforts to stop the prescribing of unproven treatments for COVID-19, including the anti-parasite drug ivermectin. O’Neill has pushed for less regulation O’Neill has long-standing ties to the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, including Thiel, one of Trump’s leading supporters from Silicon Valley. Like Thiel, O’Neill has expressed disdain for many parts of the federal bureaucracy, saying it hinders advances in medicine, technology and other areas. During Trump’s first term, O’Neill was vetted as a possible choice to lead the FDA, although his past statements about the agency raised alarms among pharmaceutical and medical technology executives. In particular, O’Neill proposed doing away with FDA’s 60-year-old mandate of assuring new drugs are both safe and effective in treating disease. In a 2014 speech, O’Neill suggested drug effectiveness could be established after medicines hit the market. Trump […]

Budget carrier Spirit Airlines said Friday that it has filed for fresh bankruptcy protection months after emerging from a Chapter 11 reorganization. The no-frills airline said it intends to conduct business as normal during the restructuring process, meaning passengers can continue to book trips and use their tickets, credits and loyalty points. The company said its employees and contractors would still be paid. Spirit President and CEO Dave Davis said the airline’s previous Chapter 11 petition focused on reducing debt and raising capital, and since exiting that process in March “it has become clear that there is much more work to be done and many more tools are available to best position Spirit for the future.“ Known for its no-frills, low-cost flights on a fleet of bright yellow planes, Spirit has struggled to recover and compete since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising operation costs and mounting debt eventually led the company to first seek bankruptcy protection in November. By the time of that Chapter 11 filing, the airline had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020. The airline now has $2.4 billion in long-term debt, most due in 2030, and reported negative free cash flow of $1 billion at the end of the second quarter. In a quarterly report issued earlier this month, Spirit Aviation Holdings, the carrier’s parent company, said it had “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue as a going concern over the next year — which is accounting-speak for running out of money. Spirit cited “adverse market conditions” the company faced after its most recent restructuring and other efforts to revive its business. That included weak demand for domestic leisure travel, which Spirit said persisted in the second quarter of its fiscal year, and “uncertainties in its business operations” that the Florida company expects to continue “for at least the remainder of 2025.” When Spirit emerged from bankruptcy protection in March, the company successfully restructured some of its debt obligations and secured new financing for future operations. Spirit has continued to make other cost-cutting efforts since — including plans to furlough about 270 pilots and downgrade some 140 captains to first officers in the coming months. The furloughs and downgrades announced last month go into effect Oct. 1 and Nov. 1 to align with Spirit’s “projected flight volume for 2026,” the company noted in its quarterly report this month. They also follow previous furloughs and job cuts before the company’s bankruptcy filing last year. Despite these and other cost-cutting efforts, Spirit has said it needs more cash. As a result, the company said it may also sell certain aircraft and real estate. And as discount carriers struggle to compete with bigger airlines — many of which have snagged budget-conscious customers through their own tiered offerings — Spirit is attempting to tap into the growing market for more upscale travel. It is now offering flight options with tiered prices, the higher-priced tickets coming with more amenities. Spirit’s fleet is relatively young, which has also made the airline an attractive takeover target. But such buyout attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier were unsuccessful both before and during the bankruptcy process. Spirit operates 5,013 flights to 88 destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Panama and Colombia, according to travel search engine Skyscanner.net […]

Lebanon’s military will soon carry out “sensitive missions,” the country’s army chief said Friday, in an apparent reference to the Lebanese government’s U.S.-backed plan to disarm the Hezbollah militant group by the end of the year. Lebanon’s military will take necessary steps to ensure the missions’ success while preserving peace among the civilian population in the crisis-hit nation, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal said in a statement. Lebanon has a U.S.-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah as well as Palestinian weapons in the country’s refugee camps. The Lebanese government asked the army in early August to come up with a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the month. The prime minister’s office said in a statement Friday the Cabinet will hold a meeting to discuss the plan on Sept. 5. Hezbollah’s leadership has vowed not to disarm, saying the national government’s decision to remove the Iran-backed group’s weapons by the end of the year serves Israel’s interests. “The army is taking major responsibilities at all levels,” Haykal was quoted as saying by an army statement. He made his comments during a meeting with the military’s top generals. Haykal added that the army is approaching a “delicate stage during which it will carry out sensitive missions and will take all the steps needed to make these missions successful taking into consideration the preservation of civil peace and internal stability.” Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said earlier this month that the government is to blame if the situation gets out of control and leads to internal conflict in the small nation. Since the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024 with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah officials have said the group will not discuss its disarmament until Israel withdraws from five hills it controls inside Lebanon and stops almost daily airstrikes. Those strikes have killed or wounded hundreds of people, most of them Hezbollah members. On Friday, the Israeli military said it killed an official with Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces in south Lebanon. Lebanese state media reported that one person was killed in a drone strike in the village of Sir el-Gharbiyeh. Haykal was quoted by the army statement as saying that the military is in contact with Syrian authorities to control the border between the two countries. Before the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December, Hezbollah received much of its weapons from Iran through Syria. (AP)

Idan Shtivi, H’yd, who was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7 massacre, was recovered by the IDF and Shin Bet in Gaza along with the body of Ilan Weiss, H’yd, the IDF and Shin Bet announced on Motzei Shabbos. “Idan Shtivi was abducted from the Tel Gama area and brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists after acting to rescue and evacuate others from the Nova music festival on October 7th, 2023. He was 28 at the time of his death,” the statement said. “Following an identification process conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine, along with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters notified his family.” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated, “Idan was a courageous person who acted to save partygoers and was murdered during the attack. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring back all our hostages, the living and the deceased.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

A senior Ukrainian official told reporter Barak Ravid that “at this stage, the arrival of visitors to Uman will not be possible this year due to security considerations related to the ongoing war with Russia.” Channel 12 News reported on Motzei Shabbos. However, according to reports, the decision was made due to Kyiv’s anger with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who failed to call Ukraine on its Independence Day about a week ago. Ukraine is also demanding economic aid from Israel and the provision of police forces to assist in managing the absorption of tens of thousands of visitors to Uman. The report comes a day after Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter ordering the government to enforce arrests against Breslover “draft-dodgers” who attempt to leave the country to travel to Uman, claiming that it is “illegal” for the government to formulate any plan to interfere with the enforcement of arrests. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

The IDF announced on Motzei Shabbos that a reserve soldier fell in battle in southern Gaza on Friday. The soldier was named as Sgt. First Class (res.) Ariel Lubliner, H’yd, 34, from Kiryat Bialik. He served in the 6036 logistics unit of the 36th Division. Lubliner, who made aliyah from Brazil, left behind his wife and 9-month-old son. He is the 900th IDF fatality since the war began. An initial investigation showed that he was killed in a friendly fire incident in an exchange of gunfire by IDF forces during a logistics convoy in Khan Younis. The incident is still under investigation. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Motzei Shabbos that a key Hamas official was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Shabbos. Israeli media reported that it is estimated that the strike targeted Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida, who has been targeted in several previous strikes. According to a senior Israeli official, if Abu Obaida was at the site that was hit, “there’s no chance he survived the elimination attempt this time.” The strike hit the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. The IDF said it took “numerous steps to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

This copy is a rare and valuable remnant from one of the greatest rabbinic figures of Bohemia, the son-in-law and disciple of the illustrious Maharal of Prague, the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Shimshon Katz of Prague, whom the Shela HaKadosh wished to become his son-in-law!! (As testified by his great-grandson, the author of ‘Chavas Yair’). On leaf 12b is a brilliant handwritten poem composed by Rabbi Yitzchak extolling the praises of this work, signed with an acrostic of his full name, and previously unknown until now.

[COMMUNICATED]

This copy is a rare and valuable remnant from one of the greatest rabbinic figures of Bohemia, the son-in-law and disciple of the illustrious Maharal of Prague, the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Shimshon Katz of Prague, whom the Shela HaKadosh wished to become his son-in-law!! (As testified by his great-grandson, the author of ‘Chavas Yair’).

On leaf 12b is a brilliant handwritten poem composed by Rabbi Yitzchak extolling the praises of this work, signed with an acrostic of his full name, and previously unknown until now.