Matzav

BNEI BRAK — This past Thursday, more than 4,000 bochurim from across Eretz Yisrael gathered at the Armonot Chen halls in Bnei Brak for the highly anticipated “Seder Hachanah” event, now entering its third decade. The initiative, organized annually by Dirshu, aims to prepare and guide yeshivah bochurim for one of the most pivotal stages of their lives: the transition from yeshivos ketanos to yeshivos gedolos.

The program featured powerful guidance and inspiration from leading roshei yeshivah and gedolei Torah, addressing both spiritual growth and practical challenges facing today’s bnei yeshivah.

In a stirring drasha, Maran HaGaon HaRav M.H. Hirsch, shlit”a, delivered words of dchizuk, advice and warning, addressing the current climate surrounding the issue of army conscription for bnei yeshivah.

“There are people who try to entice bochurim: ‘Leave the yeshivah and go elsewhere,’” he warned. “In yeshivah ketanah you may not have faced such challenges, but in yeshivah gedolah, these nisyonos may arise.”

Rav Hirsch stressed emphatically, “A bochur must not even entertain the thought of leaving yeshivah. Torah is what brings all the yeshuos to Klal Yisrael. It is Torah that draws the Shechinah closer to us, and that closeness is the source of our siyata d’Shmaya. Only through Torah can we succeed. And through your diligent learning on the highest level, you will bring about kavod Shamayim and, ultimately, the complete geulah bimheirah b’yameinu, amen.”

Maran HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlit”a Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, delivered a deep and illuminating shiur on the mission and inner world of a ben Torah in our generation.

HaGaon HaRav Masoud Ben Shimon, shlit”a, Rav of Bnei Brak, offered stirring divrei chizuk, emphasizing the lofty spiritual stature of those ascending to the level of yeshivos gedolos.

Opening remarks were delivered by HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Sternshuss, shlit”a, mashgiach of Yeshivas Shaarei Shmuos, followed by inspiring words from the Nasi of Dirshu, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Hofstedter, shlit”a, who highlighted the importance of proper preparation for the spiritual future of each ben Torah.

Additionally, the event featured a fascinating and uplifting panel discussion with prominent Roshei Yeshivah:

HaGaon HaRav Yehoshua Eichenstein, shlit”a Rosh Yeshivas Yad Aharon,

HaGaon HaRav Bunim Shreiber, shlit”a Rosh Yeshivas Nesiv HaDaas, and

HaGaon HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlit”a Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh.

The panel was moderated by HaRav Binyamin Birenzweig, Ram in Yeshivas Imrei Moshe. The discussion focused on real-life issues and daily challenges faced by bochurim in yeshivos, offering meaningful guidance and practical strategies to help them thrive and build their identity as elevated bnei Torah.

Throughout the evening, the bochurim listened with deep attentiveness, absorbing the heartfelt words of chizuk and hadrachah designed to help them rise successfully into the next stage of their avodas Hashem.

In a statement released by the IDF, officials said, “Earlier on Sunday, an IDF soldier was severely injured at a military base in central Israel.”

“The soldier was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, and his family has been notified.”

“Following the incident, military police investigators opened an investigation into the incident, and the findings will be brought to the Military Prosecution for examination.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued strong criticism against those advocating for the United Nations to reclaim its role in coordinating humanitarian deliveries to Gaza, following the release of footage showing aid trucks distributed under UN oversight being ransacked in broad daylight.

Responding to one of the videos on X, Huckabee posted: “Is the UN, NY Times, and Hamas all happy now? I’m sure Hamas is. Their lies & propaganda destroyed cease-fire deal, tried to discredit safe and functioning GHF effort, emboldened Hamas & will result in this complete balagan! Most sad for hostage families-grief prolonged.”

Meanwhile, Israel has continued to accuse Hamas of stealing humanitarian supplies sent into Gaza throughout the war. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, after a recent inspection of the situation, issued a firm statement: “I asked many questions and verified facts. What is absolutely clear is that the true obstacle to humanitarian relief is Hamas. Huge quantities of aid are flowing in – in conjunction with UN and EU efforts agreed by Israel. Hamas loots the aid and prevents its proper distribution. All this whilst the GHF distribution is also being procured.”

Herzog added further condemnation of Hamas, stating: “Let’s be clear: It is the terrorists of Hamas – hijacking aid, and refusing to agree to a hostage release and ceasefire – who are kidnapping the civilian Gaza population and subjecting them to their tragic suffering.”

In a development last week, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) offered to take over the logistics of all active aid missions free of charge. The offer came after images emerged of close to 1,000 aid trucks fully loaded but stuck on the Gaza side of the border, unable to proceed.

According to widespread reporting, the United Nations and its relief partners, such as the World Food Program, have encountered serious setbacks. Many of their aid deliveries have either been intercepted or plundered. Observers suggest the primary issue is not entry access, but a breakdown in execution and control within Gaza.

In contrast, GHF has claimed it is currently the only group reliably delivering large-scale aid. To date, the organization says it has distributed over 87 million meals and is averaging between two and three million meals daily.

Nevertheless, on Friday, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom issued a harsh rebuke of Israel, asserting that Israeli restrictions were worsening the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The three nations called on Israel “to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN” and aid agencies to combat what they termed “mass starvation.”

“The most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay,” their statement read. “Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

As part of a renewed humanitarian push, cargo was air-dropped into Gaza overnight.

This morning, the Israel Defense Forces launched a temporary pause in military operations across several regions of Gaza, including in the north, to allow for aid delivery. The pause is set to continue until this evening.

This decision was made during a high-level meeting involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and other senior figures. The IDF has also resumed aerial aid drops in an effort to ramp up humanitarian efforts and counter growing claims of deliberate starvation.

Earlier today, more aid convoys made their way from Egypt into Gaza. The United Arab Emirates also announced plans on Saturday night to deliver humanitarian goods via airlift to the region.

The IDF said it has been actively improving aid delivery systems. In the last seven days alone, more than 250 trucks have successfully brought supplies into Gaza, and hundreds more are waiting at the crossing to be collected by UN personnel. The military emphasized that it remains committed to ensuring that aid is delivered directly to civilians, and not diverted by Hamas.

{Matzav.com Israel}

While speaking to reporters on the lawn of the White House, President Donald Trump shared that his administration is actively weighing the idea of using revenue generated from tariffs to offer rebates to the public.

When asked about the possibility of issuing rebates due to the large influx of tariff income, Trump replied, “We’re thinking about that, actually,” adding, “We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate. But the big thing we want to do is pay down debt. But we’re thinking about a rebate.”

Moments later, he clarified that the rebate might not apply to everyone. “A little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice,” he said.

Government figures released by the U.S. Treasury show that customs duties brought in $64 billion in the second quarter of the year — a sharp increase of $47 billion compared to the same time frame last year, according to the Financial Times.

The conversation then shifted to trade talks with the European Union. Addressing the potential for an agreement, Trump said, “I would say that we have a 50-50 chance…maybe less than that…but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU.” He elaborated further: “And it will be a deal where they have to buy down their tariffs because they’re right now at 30%, and they’ll have to buy them down, maybe.”

He also left open the possibility of the EU maintaining its current tariff rates, but emphasized their eagerness to reach a deal. “Or they could leave them the way they are. But they want to make a deal very badly. I would have said we have a 25% chance with Japan. And they kept coming back and we made a deal.”

Trump hinted that the structure of the EU deal could mirror aspects of the agreement made with Japan. “Don’t forget, Japan is putting up $550 billion. It’s a lot of money. And also paying tariffs,” he said. He highlighted a key element of the deal with Japan, noting that “we have the right to go in and trade.”

He added, “They’ve totally opened Japan to the just to the U.S. That’s to me, the biggest part of the deal.”

{Matzav.com}

Matzav.com regrets to report the untimely petirah of Mrs. Frumit Rennert a”h, who passed away after a courageous battle with illness. She was in her early forties.

Mrs. Rennert, née Rotbart, was the devoted wife of Mr. Eli Rennert, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at First Commerce Bank in Lakewood, NJ. She was a beloved resident of the Lakewood Commons neighborhood in Lakewood.

A woman of strength and dignity, Mrs. Rennert faced her illness with unwavering emunah and grace, leaving behind a legacy of bitachon and deep devotion to her family.

The levayah will take place today, at 3:00 p.m., at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A powerful story was revealed this weekend in the popular weekly Sifsei Kohen publication, which shares insights and anecdotes from the teachings and life of the mekubal Rav Dov Kook of Teveria. The story recounts a stirring dream in which the fallen soldier Yaakov Hillel, Hashem yikom damo, appeared to his close friend with a heartbreaking plea.

Yaakov Hillel, grandson of Rav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Ahavat Shalom, was killed during a military operation in southern Lebanon. He and his father had forged a close bond with Rav Dov Kook, and so had his dear friend, identified in the article only as R.Y.D., a close talmid of Rav Kook.

After the tragic news of Yaakov’s passing reached them, the grief-stricken friend turned to Rav Kook, asking what could be done l’iluy nishmaso. Rav Kook’s response was clear: “The most important thing for him is to learn all six sedarim of Mishnayos — from beginning to end.”

Without delay, the friend accepted the sacred mission and began learning the entire corpus of Mishnayos with great devotion. He made steady progress through the volumes until he reached Maseches Keilim and the complex Seder Taharos, where the challenging content slowed his pace.

Then, this past week, an astonishing dream occurred: the soldier Yaakov Hillel appeared to his friend. With a tone of gentle reproach, he said, “Why are you making it boring for me here? Please finish learning the Mishnayos!”

Shaken, the friend immediately shared the dream with Rav Dov Kook, who responded without hesitation: “The dream is real! It is a great mitzvah to publicize it as widely as possible!”

The story was published for the first time in Sifsei Kohen, edited weekly by Rav Moshe Chaim Schneider, a close talmid and aide of Rav Kook.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Fox News host Mark Levin looks back to his early reporting on attacks against President Donald Trump, then in his first term, and the Obama administration’s involvement on ‘Life, Liberty & Levin.’

WATCH:

On Shabbos afternoon, the elderly mekubal Rav Alter Dovid Chaim Stern was transported from his home in Bnei Brak to the Maayanei HaYeshua Hospital after experiencing severe shortness of breath and general weakness.

Sources state that the mekubal has been suffering from significant weakness in recent months. The situation worsened on Shabbos, prompting his immediate hospitalization.

Despite his frailty, Rav Stern had continued his long-standing practice of traveling weekly to Meron. He even made the trip this past Thursday, just days before his condition took a turn for the worse.

All are asked to daven for Rav Alter Dovid Chaim ben Chaya Sarah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the zekan roshei hayeshivos in America, was admitted to intensive care just hours before Shabbos.

Rav Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, has been hospitalized several times in recent months.

On Erev Shabbos, Rav Shmuel was taken to the hospital and admitted to the ICU.

All are asked to daven for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

On June 13, Israel carried out a strike on Iran with the green light from the Trump administration, though U.S. officials made it clear they would only become involved if the mission proved effective, according to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

Israeli sources mentioned in the article said that Iran was not only advancing its nuclear weapons program but was also working on an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon. This type of device, when detonated at high altitude, can unleash a surge of electromagnetic energy capable of disabling Israel’s power grid.

The report noted that the Israeli operation inflicted enough damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure to delay its progress by at least a year. However, this fell short of Israel’s initial claims that the setback would last several years.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal revealed that during Operation Rising Lion, Iran managed to detect and exploit flaws in Israel’s air defense systems, leading to civilian casualties.

Missile defense analysts observed that Iran refined its strategy throughout the campaign, using a method of “trial and error” to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of its missile launches. Their conclusions were drawn from examining debris and impact zones using publicly accessible information.

This evolving strategy reportedly enabled Iran to identify and take advantage of weak points in Israel’s defenses. As the operation continued, Iran began launching more sophisticated missiles from a wider range of sites, which made it harder for Israel’s systems to intercept them.

As the fighting wore on, experts noted a shift: although the number of missiles launched decreased, a greater proportion of them reached their intended targets. They emphasized that while Israel’s missile defense technology is among the best in the world and benefits from U.S. support, no system can offer absolute protection.

The report also pointed out that Iran improved both the timing and diversity of its missile attacks during the conflict, expanding the scope of its targets and further straining Israel’s ability to respond effectively.

In the early stages of the war, only 8% of Iranian missiles managed to penetrate Israeli defenses. By the latter half, that figure had doubled to 16%.

{Matzav.com}

Over Shabbos, Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, targeting civilian areas with a barrage of missiles and drones. In Dnipro — a city often recognized as a hub of Jewish life in Ukraine — over a hundred projectiles, including kamikaze drones, were launched. One of the missiles hit the top floor of a high-end apartment complex in the heart of the city, where Rabbi Moshe and Shoshi Weber, Chabad shluchim, reside.

The blast resulted in two fatalities and left many others wounded. Although the Webers’ home sustained significant damage, the family miraculously made it out without injury.

Rabbi Weber oversees Kolel Torah in Ukraine, a global initiative that promotes structured Torah study, especially throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union, with thousands of participants engaged regularly.

“We experienced an incredible miracle this Shabbos. The missile struck the building, damaging our balcony and part of our apartment, but thank God we are completely fine and unharmed,” Rabbi Weber shared.

Rabbi Mayer Stambler, who leads the Jewish communities across Ukraine and has lived in Dnipro since the 1990s, remarked, “It was a very difficult night in Dnipro. I don’t recall such intense and massive bombardments — and we’ve had rockets several times a week — since the war began three and a half years ago. There’s clearly a significant escalation in recent months, and we, the civilians, feel it firsthand.”

He went on to say, “This is the second time in the past month that a Chabad emissary was miraculously saved. Just two weeks ago, a drone hit the car of Rabbi Yossi Wolf, the rabbi of Kherson — and thank God, he too was unharmed. It is time to end this war and put a stop to the terrorism that continues to claim the lives of innocent civilians and soldiers on the battlefield every week. The Rebbe’s emissaries are here — despite everything — to help every Jew, both physically and spiritually. It’s not easy; it’s challenging. But we don’t abandon our mission. We pray for peace and for the coming of Moshiach soon.”

Vice President JD Vance currently edges out three high-profile Democrats in projected 2028 presidential election matchups, according to a new Emerson College poll released Friday.

The nationwide survey, conducted July 21-22 among 1,400 voters, showed Vance holding modest leads over potential Democratic challengers: former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The poll carries a 2.5% margin of error.

Against Buttigieg, Vance leads by just 0.8 percentage points — 43.9% to 43.1% — with 13.1% of voters still unsure. The same poll found that in the 2024 election, 42% voted for President Donald Trump and 40.5% for Vice President Kamala Harris, while 15.7% said they didn’t vote and 1.8% supported another candidate.

Vance’s strongest showing was against Newsom, beating him 45.3% to 42.1%, a 3.2-point advantage, with 12.5% undecided. When matched against Ocasio-Cortez, Vance led 44% to 41%, a 3-point gap, while 14.6% remained undecided.

“A key takeaway from the ballot tests is that about 13% of the electorate remains persuadable, while the other 87% have already settled on a party preference,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a statement released alongside the survey.

As of now, none of the three Democrats tested in the poll have officially declared a 2028 presidential bid.

Newsom recently made a visit to South Carolina, a key early primary state, raising eyebrows about his national ambitions. Buttigieg, who gained momentum in the 2020 Democratic primaries with a win in Iowa and a strong second-place finish in New Hampshire, stirred more speculation earlier this year when he announced he wouldn’t pursue statewide office in Michigan, where he currently resides.

There are also murmurs that Ocasio-Cortez — a leading voice on the party’s progressive wing — may be contemplating a primary challenge in 2028 against Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

Noticeably absent from the survey was Kamala Harris, who is said to be weighing a possible campaign for governor of California next year, as Newsom faces term limits. Other Democratic governors seen as potential contenders — such as Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and JB Pritzker of Illinois — were also not included in this particular poll.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino made a dramatic announcement on Saturday, revealing that he has uncovered new information related to alleged corruption and abuse of power within the government — revelations he says left him deeply shaken.

Although he declined to go into detail, Bongino hinted that investigations are underway and being handled with strict adherence to legal protocols.

“What I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core,” Bongino said in a powerful statement posted to X.

“We cannot run a Republic like this. I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.”

Bongino refrained from giving any specifics about when the public might be informed about the discoveries. He acknowledged that while he no longer maintains the same public presence he once had during his years as a podcast host, that doesn’t mean he’s inactive.

“We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law,” he stressed.

“We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not ‘my truth,’ or ‘your truth,’ but THE TRUTH.”

In this episode, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman describes how the Kingdom of Yehudah went from the heights to the depths when Menasheh succeeded Chizkiyahu.

Chapter Thirty-four: Destruction and Banishment

In 533 b.c.e., after a reign of twenty-five years, Chizkiyahu passed away. His twelve-year-old son Menasheh ascended to the throne and remained there for fifty-five years. It was the longest reign in Jewish history. And the worst. Menasheh destroyed everything his father had accomplished, and by the time he was through, the Kingdom of Yehudah had exceeded the basest forms of paganism it had known during the reign of Achaz.

It is difficult to understand why a young prince raised in the royal palace of the saintly Chizkiyahu should be inclined to such evil. Perhaps some traumatic experience activated the dormant toxins of the blood of Achav and Ezevel that flowed in his young veins. Perhaps the influence of his mother Hephzibah was in some way responsible. But whatever his motivations, he broke new ground in villainy and depravity.

Far more difficult to understand is how the people of Yehudah allowed themselves to be subverted by Menasheh. The light of Torah had shone more brightly during the reign of Chizkiyahu than at any time since the days of Shlomo. How could they fall so far in a few short years?

At first glance, it would seem that only people with whom we come into direct contact influence our attitudes and beliefs. After all, how can we be affected by what our ancestors thought and did in the previous century? But the truth is that the attitudes and beliefs of our distant ancestors have an exceedingly powerful influence on our lives.

The Talmud advises against making critical remarks about gentiles in front of the descendants of righteous converts for ten generations. Although these thoroughly Jewish descendants of converts are very far removed from their gentile forbears in time and ideology, there still remains a tenuous connection that is not so easily severed. It manifests itself in thousands of minuscule subliminal and subconscious nuances. The passage of each generation, however, filters out more and more of these nuances. By the tenth generation, they are all gone, and the connection is severed. Such is the power of generational conditioning.

Conversely, the longer successive generations adhere to a particular ideology or way of life, the more ingrained it becomes. All the fine nuances of thought and life are sifted through the filters of each passing generation until they become imprinted on the souls of posterity.

The shaded flavors of a child’s upbringing—the attitudes, the inflections, the rhythms, the humor, the habits, the fears and the hopes—all color his being with the deep-hued dyes of background and identity. Newly acquired attitudes and beliefs, however, no matter how strongly held, do not merge into the fibers of the soul. The intellect is more easily transformed than the identity, and only by generational conditioning do the intellect and the identity merge.

The Kingdom of Yehudah had been transformed under Chizkiyahu. The dismal fate of its sister kingdom to the north and the charismatic leadership of the noble Chizkiyahu had combined to diffuse the spirit of the core element to all levels of society. But generational conditioning in the new mode was lacking. Actually, generational conditioning worked against the Jewish people, since they had become conditioned for centuries to apathetic and mechanical Torah observance. Thus, although the light of Torah did indeed illuminate Chizkiyahu’s kingdom, it was only a luminous garment worn on the exterior of the soul. It would take generations of continuity for that garment to fuse with the soul, but those generations never came to pass. Menasheh would not let it happen …

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her belief today that recognizing a Palestinian state before it is actually formed could do more harm than good.

“I am very much in favor of the State of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognizing it prior to establishing it,” Meloni stated in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

She continued by cautioning against symbolic moves that don’t reflect reality on the ground. “If something that doesn’t exist is recognized on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t,” Meloni added.

France’s announcement that it intends to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September has been met with strong objections from both Israel and the United States, especially amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Insiders have said that Israel’s response to France’s plans includes threats to reduce intelligence cooperation and potentially undermine French initiatives in the region. Meanwhile, some Israeli cabinet ministers are calling for the annexation of the West Bank in response.

With its large Jewish and Muslim populations, France stands to become the first major Western power to formally back Palestinian statehood. Such a move could add momentum to a global campaign that until now has been largely led by smaller nations more critical of Israel’s policies.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani weighed in on Friday, stating that diplomatic recognition must come hand-in-hand with mutual acknowledgment, saying the Palestinian side must also recognize Israel in return.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed similar sentiments, saying on Friday that acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood should be just one part of a broader roadmap aimed at ensuring long-term peace and safety for both peoples.

In a recorded message, Starmer emphasized a coordinated effort with the UK’s allies to push forward a “pathway to peace” that includes recognizing a Palestinian state as a step toward a larger goal. “But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering – which of course, will always be our ultimate goal,” the British premier added.

A German government representative noted on Friday that Berlin currently has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state in the near future. Instead, Germany is focusing its efforts on advancing real progress toward a two-state outcome that has long been stalled.

Critics of unilateral recognition argue that such declarations are largely symbolic unless they emerge from direct engagement with Israel, and they stress that a Palestinian state should only come from negotiated agreements between the two sides. Supporters of recognition, however, argue that the current Israeli leadership shows no interest in peace talks or a two-state outcome, and that international pressure is the only remaining tool to move things forward.

According to a count by AFP, at least 142 nations have either recognized or expressed plans to recognize Palestinian statehood. Many of these announcements have come in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas.

Following the onset of that conflict, countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia joined a growing list of governments that have issued formal recognition, alongside several nations outside of Europe.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials believe that last month’s joint military actions by the U.S. and Israel inside Iran significantly set back Tehran’s progress toward developing two kinds of nuclear warheads, as well as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon that could wreak havoc on Israel’s infrastructure, according to a report published today by the Washington Post.

The article says the 12-day conflict inflicted serious damage, destroying approximately 1,500 of Iran’s 3,000 ballistic missiles and eliminating 80% of its 500 missile launchers. Anonymous Israeli officials told the Post that Iran had intended to grow its missile arsenal to 8,000 units, and that any delay in striking would have dramatically increased Israel’s vulnerability to such attacks.

Still, the report notes that Israel faced an unpleasant surprise during the campaign when it became clear that Iran possessed more solid-fueled missiles than previously estimated. These types of missiles are harder to intercept, according to one Israeli source quoted by the newspaper.

The extent of the blow to Iran’s strategic capabilities was further amplified by targeted killings of key personnel. The Post reports that Israeli operations eliminated Iran’s top-tier and second-tier nuclear scientists, as well as most of those in the third tier. Israeli sources indicated that they hope these assassinations will discourage the next generation of Iranians from entering nuclear research and development.

These findings were detailed in an opinion column by David Ignatius, a foreign affairs analyst for the Washington Post.

Ignatius further reveals that as U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire, “Israel was moving into a final phase of attacks intended to topple the regime,” though he does not provide further details. On June 24, just hours after the ceasefire was announced, Trump directed Israel to abort planned airstrikes on Tehran and condemned Israel’s actions as violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The targeted assassinations are also believed to have brought an end to Iran’s efforts to build an EMP weapon. EMPs release intense bursts of electromagnetic energy capable of disabling power grids and electronics. The initiative was championed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as an alternative to nuclear bombs, which are technically forbidden by a religious edict issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Despite that religious prohibition, Israeli sources say Iran was progressing on both a conventional fission-based nuclear device and a more advanced fusion warhead. The Post reports that the latter, more complicated project was abandoned after Israeli strikes killed many of the key scientists involved.

A senior Israeli official told the Post that “Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state,” a view also expressed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The source added that it would take Iran at least one to two years to develop a nuclear weapon — and that any covert attempt to rush a crude device would likely be discovered and stopped by Israel.

Israeli leaders have insisted that their preemptive attack on June 13 was prompted by evidence that Iran — which has openly called for Israel’s destruction — was moving closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon. While Iran continues to deny any intention of pursuing nuclear arms, it has enriched uranium to 60%, a level well beyond civilian energy needs and just shy of weapons-grade material.

{Matzav.com}

In a message posted on Telegram overnight, the IDF announced that it had “carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.”

According to the military, the operation was conducted “in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”

This marks the first instance of Israel itself conducting an airdrop of supplies into Gaza since the war erupted, having previously permitted only foreign nations to undertake such missions.

Notably, the announcement was released solely in English on Telegram and did not appear on the IDF’s official X accounts, in either Hebrew or English.

The “Handala” vessel, which departed from Italy carrying pro-Palestinian activists, neared the Gaza coast, where IDF commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit boarded and took control of the ship.

Roughly two weeks ago, the flotilla set sail from the Italian city of Syracuse, publicly declaring its mission to “break the siege on Gaza.”

An alert was issued aboard the ship, prompting those on board to put on life jackets while announcing they were bracing themselves for an interception.

The IDF released a statement saying: “The IDF enforces the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a variety of scenarios, which will be carried out according to the directives of the political echelon.”

Jacob Berger, a pro-Palestinian Jewish activist from New York who is among the participants, posted a video on Instagram in which he stated: “We’re here, 100 miles from Gaza, so tell Israel to come catch us already.”
{Matzav.com}