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Photographer Eliezer Feinstein provides us with a glimpse into the Erev Sukkos scenes in Bnei Brak.

RUBIO: “Until Gaza is governed by people that are not interested in destroying Israel, until there are no security threats emanating against Israel from Gaza, forget about statehood — you’re not going to have peace, so we have to create the conditions for that.”

Sec. Rubio breaks down President Trump’s plan for peace and the response from Hamas: “They have agreed to the President’s hostage release framework and what needs to happen now is… the conditions have to be created for that to happen.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed allegations of mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other Global Sumud flotilla activists as “brazen lies,” even as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he was “proud” detainees were being treated like terrorists. In a statement posted to X, the Foreign Ministry said “all the detainees’ legal rights are fully upheld,” and argued the claims were contradicted by the detainees’ own decisions. “Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody,” the ministry wrote. “Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations — because they never occurred.” The legal aid organization Adalah countered that numerous detainees reported being denied food and water and physically manhandled by Israeli authorities. Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, has reportedly endured bedbug-infested conditions while in detention, according to the group. Adalah said Thunberg has met Swedish embassy officials but, as of Saturday, had not yet met with a lawyer. The group is representing flotilla detainees in legal proceedings aimed at facilitating their deportation. Undercutting the government’s denial, Ben Gvir — who oversees Israel’s prison system — openly embraced tough handling of the flotilla detainees after visiting Ketziot Prison. “I was proud that we are treating the ‘flotilla activists’ as terror supporters,” he said. “Whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists… It is worthwhile for them to experience the conditions in Ketziot prison, and think twice before they come close to Israel again. That’s how it works.” Ben Gvir further claimed the flotilla carried no meaningful aid for Gaza: “I was there, on their boats, I didn’t see aid and I didn’t see humanitarian. I saw one Materna [baby formula] and an entire wild party of people who were dressing up as human rights activists.” The Foreign Ministry’s assertion that Thunberg and others declined expedited deportation underscores a standoff shaping the legal and political optics of the case: activists seeking to contest Israel’s narrative from inside the system, and a government intent on projecting zero tolerance toward what it labels “terror support.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Mexico’s Security Ministry said Saturday that it arrested an alleged local leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in Mexico City. Officials identified the suspect as Nelson Arturo “N,” 29, described as the leader and main operator of the transnational criminal group in the country. Authorities said that he was wanted on multiple charges, but in keeping with Mexican law don’t release suspects’ last names. Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in the central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. The Trump administration declared the group a terrorist organization. U.S. officials have consistently blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. Trump has repeated his claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control. The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind violence in the region. On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that he ordered another strike on a small boat that he accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, expanding what the Trump administration has declared is an “armed conflict” with cartels. So far, at least three of the strikes have been carried out on vessels that U.S. officials said had originated from Venezuela. The strikes followed a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times. In a post about the first strike last month, Trump claimed that the vessel was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Security agents carried out intelligence work and identified the suspect, who they accused of crimes including human trafficking, drug dealing, homicide, kidnapping and extortion. Along with the gang leader, two other men, ages 36 and 37, were arrested. Authorities said that they were found with more than 100 doses of drugs, two cellphones and cash. After the arrests, they were placed under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office to determine their legal status. On Wednesday, five alleged members of the gang were extradited from the United States to Chile, including one linked to the killing of a former Venezuelan soldier last year. (AP)

SING Entertainment has announced that with the help of the show’s sponsor, Whee, their chol hamoed concert will include a section with more affordable seating for families that wish to join their family show starring Benny Friedman.   Tishrei is a time where expenses tend to begin to pile up for families. For some, the expense of chol hamoed activities for a whole family can be overwhelming.   It is with that in mind that SING Entertainment, together with the show sponsor Whee, have announced a new feature for this year.   They designated a balcony section where tickets are listed at the most affordable price yet, with seats starting at just $36.   The goal of these seats is to make the show accessible and affordable to all fans to come and enjoy a fresh batch of simchas yom tov.   “We’re seeing these sell pretty fast” Eli Ickowics of SING Entertainment shared with YWN. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sold out pretty soon. But that underscored the need that there is for these types of seats, and we are grateful to the team at Whee for helping us make this happen.”   Jewish music fans have been abuzz ever since last week’s concert announcement, eagerly trying to guess and predict which guest stars will be joining Benny Friedman at his October 12 show at the Newark Symphony Hall.   Keeping the info tight-lipped, the show’s producers have just kept saying “people are going to be stunned.”   On Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 PM “Benny and Friends” will take the stage for an afternoon concert titled “Whee Want To Sing With You” live at the Newark Symphony Hall brought to you by Whee.    Doors open at 2:00, show begins at 3:00. Tickets are now on sale at https://t.ly/sing.ywn  

Secretary Rubio on the Hamas response to President Trump’s peace plan: “They have said, basically, that they agree to his proposal and the framework for releasing the hostages. That’s an enormous achievement… There’s a lot of international pressure on Hamas to make this happen.”

President Trump told CNN Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if the group refuses to cede power and control of Gaza, amid ongoing efforts to push forward his proposed ceasefire plan. “Complete Obliteration!” Trump told CNN’s Jake Tapper when asked via text message on Saturday what would happen if Hamas insists on staying in power.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Hope to reach a deal very soon. Hamas has agreed in principle to what will happen in Gaza after the war. The phase of disarming Hamas will be difficult. Very soon we’ll know if Hamas is serious.”

Severe flooding in Nepal has killed at least 47 people after heavy rains triggered landslides that destroyed bridges and blocked roads, with dozens still missing.

Ten protective shelters were installed today in public areas throughout the city of Eilat, Israel.

IDF officials say over 900,000 civilians have fled Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and relocated to the designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said he expects the first phase of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan to be implemented soon, leading to the immediate release of all hostages. Speaking at a Yom Kippur War memorial, Katz said Hamas’s shift stems from Israeli pressure in Gaza City and warned that if the group refuses to release the hostages, the IDF will intensify its operations until Hamas is defeated.

Nearly two years after the October 7 attacks, Israeli police discovered a grenade on the Gaza border community of Be’eri that had been used by Hamas terrorists during their invasion of the kibbutz.

REPORT: Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was hospitalized in Russia after being poisoned, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group said Assad, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, was rushed to a private hospital near Moscow on September 20 in critical condition, treated in intensive care, and released nine days later.

A senior Hamas terrorist said the terror group is eager to reach an agreement to end the war in Gaza and begin a prisoner exchange, urging Israel not to obstruct President Trump’s plan. Speaking anonymously, the terrorist said Hamas is ready “if the occupation has genuine intentions to reach an agreement.” A Palestinian source told AFP that both delegations will be in the same building when talks begin in Egypt on Monday.

David Zini has officially taken over as head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated him and wished him success in the major mission ahead, while also thanking the acting chief who had been leading the agency until now, whose identity remains classified.