Matzav

For the first time in the history of the Vizhnitzer chassidus, a major change has been made to the timing of Selichos. Due to the health condition of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the traditional late-night Selichos have been moved on Motzoei Shabbos to 10:30 p.m., instead of the longstanding custom of beginning at 12:30 a.m.

The adjustment follows the Rebbe’s hospitalization this past Motzoei Shabbos at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after experiencing weakness over Shabbos. To the great relief of his chassidim, the Rebbe was discharged this morning and is now resting at a guest residence in Moshav Ora.

For the time being, the Rebbe will not be receiving visitors.

Sources told Matzav.com that the directive to advance the timing of Selichos was issued by the noted dayan Rav Yisroel Miller and applies only to the Rebbe’s personal minyan. All other Vizhnitzer minyanim in Eretz Yisroel and abroad will continue to recite Selichos at the traditional time, after midnight.

According to current plans, the Rebbe is expected to remain in Moshav Ora throughout the month, returning to his residence only for Yom Tov. Even on the Shabbos following Rosh Hashanah, he is expected to remain at the guest home together with his son-in-law, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Beit Shemesh.

All are asked to continue to daven for Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The horrific terror attack this morning at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim, which claimed the lives of six people, has left many shaken and deeply unsettled. For countless residents, daily routines such as walking in public spaces or traveling on buses — once mundane parts of life — now feel threatening and unsafe. Yet experts stress that understanding both the psychological effects of trauma and the ongoing security measures in place can help restore a measure of calm.

The Psychological Impact of Terror

Studies conducted in Israel, where terror is unfortunately familiar, reveal that exposure — whether direct or indirect — to such violent events often triggers intense emotional reactions. Fear, anxiety, and even avoidance of public transportation are common responses. According to surveys from the Ministry of Health and other research bodies, as many as 34% of Israelis who were near a severe incident reported symptoms of post-trauma or prolonged anxiety. While such reactions are normal in the days and weeks immediately following an attack, persistent distress that disrupts daily life may require professional support.

Practical Tools for Coping

Mental health experts recommend several approaches to help individuals work through these feelings:

• Acknowledgment and Communication: Accepting that fear is a natural reaction and sharing those feelings with family, friends, or professionals eases the emotional burden. Silence only deepens anxiety.

• Limiting Media Exposure: Both the World Health Organization and Israeli health authorities advise reducing intake of graphic or traumatic media coverage. While curiosity is natural, constant exposure to distressing content often intensifies fear.

• Gradual Return to Routine: Avoidance can reinforce anxiety. A step-by-step reintroduction to daily habits — such as starting with short rides or traveling with a companion — helps rebuild confidence.

Security Measures in Place

Despite the tragedy, it is vital to recognize the extensive efforts taken to ensure public safety. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 major terror attempts were thwarted by the Shin Bet and the IDF, alongside thousands of arrests and enhanced security deployments on buses and in sensitive locations. Authorities note that the past year has actually seen a sharp decline in successful attacks — 70% fewer compared to the year before.

The public also plays a vital role. Security officials repeatedly emphasize that vigilance and reporting anything suspicious are critical components in safeguarding communities.

A Closing Thought

Terror attacks shake our sense of safety to the core. Still, the overwhelming majority of Israelis reach their destinations unharmed each day, a reality that reflects both relentless security work and, as many believe, divine protection. May we soon see the day when such tragedies cease, fulfilling the words of Tehillim (91): “לֹא תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וְנֶגַע לֹא יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ – No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Amid the horror of Monday’s deadly terror attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim, where six Jewish civilians were murdered simply for being Jewish, one extraordinary act of courage stood out. A chareidi yungerman from the Ramot neighborhood, who obtained a personal firearm license about a year ago, charged at the terrorists and, together with other armed civilians, brought the assault to an end.

According to reports, the man, who had been approved for a weapon under the firearm reform pushed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, reacted without hesitation. He entered the bus where the terrorists had taken position, opened fire, and neutralized them within moments.

By doing so, he prevented further bloodshed among the passengers. Eyewitnesses said his quick action and bravery averted a far greater tragedy.

Although gun ownership is not widespread in the chareidi community, it has become increasingly visible in recent years, particularly following the war nearly two years ago that left many Israelis deeply shaken about their personal security.

Personal firearms are now playing a growing role in Israel’s civilian defense. Data from 2024 shows a clear trend: as the number of licensed firearms rises, so does the involvement of armed citizens in thwarting terror attacks. In fact, most attacks in civilian areas over the past 18 months were stopped by ordinary people carrying weapons—often under fire themselves, and sometimes even after being wounded.

There are currently more than 313,000 active firearm licenses in Israel, reflecting a nearly 180% increase since the start of the war. The Ministry of National Security reports that applications for gun permits have surged to record levels.

Examples continue to pile up. Armed civilians were among the first responders at attacks in Glilot, Yavne Junction, Chadeira, Yaffo, and other locations, neutralizing terrorists and saving lives. Security officials recognize their contribution to public safety but stress that personal weapons demand strict responsibility, thorough training, and full compliance with the law.

Exactly one year ago, Minister Ben Gvir allocated 3.8 million shekels to boost security in Elad, a chareidi city, which included funding for a new rapid-response unit and a police off-road vehicle. He praised the 1,300 Elad residents who received gun permits in the past year under his reform, turning the city into a community eligible for widespread firearm licensing.

Recently, five additional municipalities—Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, Gan Yavne, Megiddo Regional Council, and Tel Mond—were added to the list of towns where residents are entitled to apply for private gun licenses. This expansion means that another 100,000 Israelis are now eligible to carry firearms.

According to ministry figures, since the start of the accelerated licensing reform, approximately 230,000 new firearm permits have been issued, dramatically changing the landscape of civilian defense in Israel.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

As the new year begins, the Boca Raton Kollel reflects on the tremendous Torah learning, personal growth, and community impact it has been privileged to experience this past year — together with its cherished community.

Over the past year, the Kollel’s yungeleit immersed themselves in the depths of halacha, diligently studying the complexities of Hilchos Basar B’cholov, Ta’aruvos, Niddah, Choshen Mishpat, and additional simanim in Yoreh Deah. Their tireless hasmadah and mesiras nefesh, alongside the steadfast support of their wives, culminated in a remarkable milestone: receiving semicha — Yoreh Yoreh, Yodin Yodin.

A heartfelt mazal tov is extended to the new musmachim and their families. This achievement is not only a personal triumph but also a true kiddush Hashem and a source of pride for the entire Boca Raton community.

Spreading Torah Beyond Our Walls

The Kollel’s continued impact is demonstrated by the fact that its five graduating yungeleit are stepping into new roles across the Greater South Florida Jewish community:

• Rabbi Yosef Schottenfeld and Rabbi Shmuel Baldinger are joining Mizrahi Family Torah Academy as Rabbeim

• Rabbi Meir Palgon is currently a Rebbi at the Torah Academy of Boca Raton

• Rabbi Aaron Deutsch is serving as Executive Director of the new East Boca Kollel

• Rabbi Yaakov Rimmer is taking on the role of Director of Community Outreach at the Boca Raton Kollel

The community wishes them continued bracha in their new positions and expresses gratitude that they remain connected to the Kollel family.

Welcoming New Faces

The Kollel is thrilled to welcome four new yungeleit:

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yehoshua Lehmann

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosaif Slotkin

• Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin King

• Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Goldberg

With their arrival — alongside the dedicated returning yungeleit — the kol Torah, harbotzas Torah, and warmth that define the Kollel will continue to flourish.

Together, the Kollel and its community have built a beautiful and welcoming makom Torah, a beacon of inspiration for the entire Boca Raton community. The Kollel recognizes that your partnership, friendship, and support make all of this possible.

Looking ahead, the Boca Raton Kollel eagerly anticipates another year of Torah, growth, and connection – together.

Visit: www.brkollel.com

Israeli President Yitzchok Herzog spoke today with Yigal, the Yerushalayim taxi driver who bravely rescued an 85-year-old woman from the scene of the terrorist attack in Ramot.

During their phone conversation, Herzog expressed admiration for Yigal’s actions, telling him: “I’m excited to speak with you, dear Yigal. You are truly a model of civic courage. I watched the video and said – get me Yigal! All the credit to you! You are a role model citizen. I want to say thank you. In this way you bring tremendous pride to the State of Israel, and I wish you good health, happiness and joy.”

Yigal, however, humbly rejected the label of hero. “I don’t see this as any act of bravery. I simply think that any taxi driver in such a situation must act this way. There was a passenger, an elderly woman about 85 years old, and I had to get her out of there,” he responded.

Footage from a dashcam shows the moment Yigal pulled the woman from the danger zone amid the chaos of the attack. His quick thinking and sense of responsibility have since drawn widespread public attention.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Police in north London are looking for a suspect seen on security cameras smearing an unknown substance on two shuls and on a walkway regularly used by mispallelim in Golders Green.

The incidents, which happened last Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, are being treated by the Metropolitan Police as religiously motivated acts of vandalism. Reports have indicated that the material involved was excrement.

Det Supt Tony Bellis condemned the behavior, saying: “This is a revolting and appalling act and we are urging the public to help us locate those responsible as soon as possible.”

CCTV footage of the offenses was collected by Shomrim, a volunteer neighborhood patrol organization that monitors Jewish areas in north-east London, and passed on to investigators.

A representative for Shomrim NW described the attacks as “a deliberate and disgraceful anti-Semitic act targeting places of worship and members of our community.”

The spokesperson continued: “It is utterly disgusting, and those responsible must be caught and brought to justice. Nobody should have to face such hatred when going to pray or at their own home.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu came at midday to the site of the gruesome terror attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim, where six innocent Yidden were murdered.

Netanyahu declared, “We are at war with terror on several fronts. We will destroy Hamas and free our hostages, sadly we were unable to prevent this morning’s attack.”

Speaking about the heroic actions that took place, he said, “A soldier from the charedi Chashmonaim Brigade acted with amazing composure. Two charedi civilians who were armed assisted him. We must understand that we are all in this war — we must stand together.”

Netanyahu, who had been scheduled to appear in court today until the session was canceled due to the attack, turned his remarks toward the judicial system while at the scene. “Court — you are also in this war, you are also part of this war. We do not go easy on our enemies, we will strike them forcefully — and so you should act in the same way as well.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash Hy”d, who served faithfully for many years as a maintenance worker in Yeshivas Kol Torah in Yerushalayim, was tragically killed this morning in the devastating terror attack that took place at the Ramat junction in Yerushalayim.

He had been standing at the bus stop together with another staff member from the yeshiva when a driver stopped and kindly offered to take them to the yeshiva. Both of them accepted the offer and entered the vehicle.

Just then, another person approached, explaining that he needed urgent transportation to the hospital for medical care. Reb Levi Yitzchok, who had already settled into the car, immediately stepped out to allow the man to take his place. Only a few minutes later, the dreadful shooting attack broke out, and in that terrible moment, Reb Levi Yitzchok was murdered al kiddush Hashem.

At 57 years old, Reb Levi Yitzchok lived in Tel Tzion and was known throughout the Bayit Vegan neighborhood as the longtime, dedicated worker at Kol Torah. Those who worked with him describe him as a warm, caring individual who was beloved by everyone and always carried himself with a generous spirit.

Just last night, he had been celebrating together with family at a chasunah on his wife’s side in Beitar Illit. His relatives recall that he was known as someone who lived to give, always extending a helping hand to anyone who turned to him for assistance.

The levayah is scheduled to take place today at 4:30 p.m. from Shamgar in Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har Hamenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The aftermath of this morning’s deadly shooting attack at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim continues to send shockwaves through families and witnesses, as relatives of the injured share their anguish and survivors recount moments of sheer terror.

Yaakov Yisrael Gueta, whose mother Osnat was critically wounded in the shooting, described the horror that gripped him when he heard the news. “When I heard about it, my heart skipped a beat,” he said. “Ramot Junction is just two stops from home. The doctor told us that my mother was shot in the stomach, and with Hashem’s help she will recover soon.”

He emphasized his mother’s life of kindness and selflessness: “My mother is a woman whose entire life is chesed—she just gives and gives without stopping. She will come out of the operating room. I turn to all of Klal Yisroel: please daven that Hashem will say ‘enough’ to our suffering.”

Gueta added that the family is holding back the news from the younger children: “We are six siblings. Three of them are still little kids in cheder and they don’t know anything yet. We’ll update them when they come home.”

Another victim, Esther Lugasi, who was lightly injured in the attack, recalled the harrowing moments as she spoke from Shaare Zedek Medical Center. “It’s not simple—I’m still shaking. I’ve never experienced anything like this—it’s horrifying,” she said.

“I was on my way to visit my parents. The bus stopped at Ramot Junction, people got on, and the bus was packed. All the other buses left, but ours stayed put. The driver opened the doors, some people got off, and I was about to board the 62 line—suddenly gunfire erupted from every direction. It felt like running for my life without end.”

She described the sheer panic: “I felt like I was about to die. I stopped and told myself, ‘If I’m going to die, then I’m going to die,’ but I kept running. We hid in the terminal, and the gunfire kept echoing until finally there was silence. There were children and strollers—one woman was clutching her baby and tossed aside the stroller. We waited there until a medic came over to me. I was terrified to leave.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In the aftermath of Monday morning’s deadly attack at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim, where six people were murdered, two terrorists were eliminated by a soldier from the Chashmonayim Brigade together with a chareidi avreich who was armed and present at the scene. The soldier has now described the intense moments of the confrontation and his immediate actions afterwards.

The shooting took place around 10:10 a.m., when two terrorists from the villages of Qatanna and al-Qubeiba opened fire on commuters waiting at the bus stop. Within moments, the soldier and the avreich engaged the attackers and killed them, preventing further loss of life.

The platoon commander recalled the encounter in an interview with N12: “I told him, ‘Let me, I have a long weapon.’ I identified two terrorists and opened fire on them until I saw them fall. Then we advanced slightly in line, and I kept shooting until I saw they stopped moving. From there I disengaged and began treating the wounded.”

The soldier said he quickly applied tourniquets to two injured women at the scene. Once security and medical teams arrived, he returned to where he had downed the terrorists. “I approached the police and told them, ‘Hello, I’m the one who neutralized them,’” he recounted. He was then taken to give official testimony about the sequence of events.

The heroism of the soldier and the armed avreich is credited with preventing an even greater tragedy at the already blood-soaked scene.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hours after the murderous terror attack at the Ramot Junction that claimed the lives of six people, a preliminary investigation has revealed the route taken by the two terrorists. Both attackers, residents of the villages of Qatanna and al-Qubeiba near Ramallah, infiltrated Israel through a known gap in the security barrier near Dahiyat al-Barid, north of Yerushalayim.

The Route to the Attack

According to security officials, the terrorists left their villages armed with personal weapons. With the help of an accomplice, they reached the Israeli side of the fence in the area of the Qalandiya and A-Ram refugee camps.

They crossed through a breach known to security services as “the Dahiyah,” named after Dahiyat al-Barid, a familiar alleyway in the area. A driver who regularly smuggles illegal entrants then transported them to Ramot Junction. There, they opened fire on passengers waiting for Egged Bus 62, the line bound for the central bus station in Yerushalayim.

Arrests Following the Attack

By midday, police announced the arrest of a suspect from eastern Yerushalayim whose involvement is under investigation. Meanwhile, Channel 12 reported that the IDF detained the father of one of the attackers, Mutana Naji Amru.

Photographs circulated on Palestinian networks showed the arrest operations and the terrorists themselves.

IDF forces have encircled the villages of Qatanna and al-Qubeiba, conducting house-to-house searches and questioning suspects. Additional checkpoints have been set up across the Ramallah area to prevent further infiltration.

Wider Counterterror Operations

Simultaneously, the IDF has launched a brigade-level counterterror mission in northern Shomron under the Menashe Regional Brigade. Troops have been sweeping areas in the Sanur Valley, Far’a Camp, and Kabatiya.

During the overnight operations, reserve fighters from the elite Duvdevan Unit, working with the Shin Bet, arrested a terrorist who had been advancing attack plots. Security forces also seized weapons and tens of thousands of shekels in terror funds.

The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that operations are continuing both in the Binyamin region, where the Ramot attack originated, and throughout the Menashe Brigade sector, as part of the broader effort to dismantle terror infrastructure and reinforce security along the seam line and major roads.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump defended Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. against criticism from the political establishment, remarking that Kennedy has “a lot of good ideas.”

Speaking with Breitbart News during a press gaggle on the White House South Lawn on Sunday before leaving for the U.S. Open final, Trump was asked about the wave of attacks directed at Kennedy by figures such as Chris Christie, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and others.

“Well, he’s a different kind of a guy,” Trump told Breitbart News. “He’s got a lot of good ideas, but he’s got a lot of ideas. You know, normally, they don’t have any ideas, and that’s why we have problems with autism and so many other things, because we’re coming up with the answers for autism. You watch.”

 

 

 

“We’re coming up with the answers for other things that normal people, regular people, easy to get along with people, wouldn’t be able to do. He’s got a lot of ideas, and so do I, and we’re going to clean it up,” Trump added.

Last month, Kennedy moved to revoke the emergency use authorizations for the coronavirus vaccines, though he allowed them to remain available to those who choose to receive them after consulting with their doctors. He also insisted that pharmaceutical companies must provide placebo-controlled trials. Trump, for his part, demanded openness from the drug industry regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 treatments just last week.

Kennedy also appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, where he faced sharp questioning from establishment Democrats including Wyden and Warren, but managed to hold his ground.

During one notable moment, Kennedy confronted Warren for taking campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, pointing out that while vaccines remain accessible to Americans, they are not appropriate for every individual. “I never promised that I was going to recommend products for which there is no indication, and I know you’ve taken $855,000 from pharmaceutical companies, senator,” Kennedy said to Warren, while stressing that he was not removing vaccines from public availability.

The attacks against him did not stop there. On Sunday, Chris Christie escalated the criticism, dismissing Kennedy as “foolish” and “wholly unqualified” during an appearance on ABC’s This Week.

{Matzav.com}

Authorities have released the names of six victims, Hashem yikom damam, who were murdered Monday morning in the horrific terror attack at a bus stop near the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim.

The attack targeted passengers of Egged Bus 62, a line that runs daily from Ramot to the city center and is heavily used by the chareidi community. The tragedy, which could easily have claimed even more lives, has left the community shaken.

Reb Levi Yitzchak Pash Hy”d, 57

Reb Levi Yitzchak Pash, a longtime resident of Tel Tzion, was born in 1967 to Rav Shlomo Pash and Rebbetzin Tziporah, daughter of the Stretiner Rebbe of Yerushalayim. He married the daughter of Rav Eliezer Chaim Estreicher, a prominent Erlauer chassid.

Beloved throughout Bayit Vegan, where he worked as a devoted maintenance employee at Yeshivas Kol Torah, he was known for his generosity, humility, and dedication to Torah learning. Just last night he attended a family wedding in Beitar.

On Monday morning, he initially secured a ride to the yeshiva but gave up his seat to another man in urgent need of hospital treatment. Moments later, as he stood waiting at Ramot, he was murdered. He leaves behind a large family, including three unmarried children.

His levayah was scheduled to begin Monday afternoon at Shamgar Funeral Home, followed by a procession to Kol Torah and burial on Har HaMenuchos.

Reb Yaakov Pinto Hy”d, 25

Born in Spain in 2000, Reb Yaakov Pinto was the only child of his parents. As a teenager he immigrated to Eretz Yisroel, studying at Yeshivas Nehora under Rav Avraham Greenbaum and later at Yeshivas Derech Emunah in Lod under Rav Zvi Braverman.

He married his wife Osnat at the start of the recent Iranian onslaught and served as a mentor at Yeshivas Chevras HaTorah in Yerushalayim. The yeshiva released a statement mourning “the heartbreaking loss of our guide and friend, Rav Yaakov Pinto zt”l.”

His levayah was expected to take place Tuesday at Yeshivas Derech Emunah in Lod.

Reb Alter Yisrael Mitzner Hy”d, 31

Reb Alter Yisrael Mitzner, a member of a well-known rabbinic family, was born in Bnei Brak in 1995 to Rav Uri Meir Mitzner and Rebbetzin Rivka. He was one of triplets. After studying at Talmud Torah Razi-Li and Yeshivas Nachlas Dovid in Petach Tikvah, he advanced to Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim.

He married the daughter of Rav Chaim Greineman, director of Kollel Taharos in Ponovezh. His wife, Efrat Greineman, serves in the Chareidi Education Department of the Yerushalayim Municipality.

Rav Yisrael learned in Kollel Meisharim under Rav Chaim Tzvi Rozenberg in Givat Shaul. Friends describe him as refined, brilliant, and fully immersed in Torah. He leaves behind his parents, his wife, and three young children.

His levayah is set for Monday evening in Bnei Brak, with burial in the Vizhnitz cemetery.

Reb Yosef David Hy”d, 43

Rav Yosef David, a resident of Ramot, was killed on his way to kollel with his seforim in hand. Born in 1986, he was a devoted oved Hashem, a mispallel at the Mishkan Shraga shul, and the husband of a well-known kindergarten teacher in Ramot. He leaves behind his wife and children.

Reb Mordechai Steintz Hy”d, 79

Known fondly as “Dr. Mark,” Reb Mordechai Steintz founded the popular “Doctor Mark’s Bakery” in Beit Shemesh. Originally from the United States, he was trained as a cardiologist but devoted much of his life to promoting healthy living and wholesome bread products, pioneering a revolution in Israel’s baking industry.

He was beloved in his Ramot community for his warmth, chessed, and commitment to strengthening Torah institutions. A decade ago, he donated a Sefer Torah to his local shul. Neighbors remembered him as “sweeter than honey, always looking to help.”

Mrs. Sarita (Sarah) Mendelson Hy”d, 60

The sixth victim was Mrs. Sarita Mendelson of Ramat Shlomo, who served as head of municipal relations in the finance department of the Bnei Akiva movement. She was on her way to work at the organization’s national headquarters when she was murdered.

In a statement, Bnei Akiva said: “The movement mourns the murder of our dear colleague Sarita Mendelson, a dedicated leader for decades. We embrace her family during this painful time. May the land not cover her blood.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Six people were murdered and a dozen more wounded in a terrorist shooting in the northern Yerushalayim neighborhood of Ramot this morning.

The Magen David Adom emergency medical response group identified five of the slain victims as a man and a woman in their 50s and three men in their 30s.

The sixth fatality, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead in the afternoon after medical staff were unable to save them.

Magen David Adom paramedics transferred seven seriously wounded people to hospitals in Yerushalayim, it said. Two others were moderately injured, and three sustained light wounds.

Two terrorists were neutralized at the scene by an Israel Defense Forces soldier and an armed civilian. The soldier was identified in reports as a squad commander in the IDF’s Chashmonean Brigade.

The Hamas terrorist organization in a statement praised “the heroic and unique operation” carried out by “two Palestinian resistance fighters,” calling the murders “a natural response to the occupation’s crimes.”

The statement called on Palestinians across Judea and Samaria to “escalate the confrontation with the occupation and its settlers.”

Nadav Taib, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, said in a statement shared by the organization he “arrived at the location with large forces immediately after receiving the report of people wounded by gunfire.

“We saw people lying on the road, unconscious, on the side of the road and the sidewalk near a bus stop. There was widespread destruction at the scene, shattered glass on the ground and commotion,” he stated.

Magen David Adom “provided medical treatment to the wounded and continues to treat and evacuate them to hospitals,” the paramedic said.

Israel Police spokesman Aryeh Doron told local media that the incident was still ongoing some 30 minutes after the initial report. Security forces were said to be investigating a suspicious object at the scene.

The news outlet reported that the IDF ordered the closure of security checkpoints between Yerushalayim and Judea and Samaria pending a situational assessment at its Central Command headquarters.

“Following the shooting attack at the Ramot Junction earlier today, IDF soldiers were dispatched to the area and are conducting searches for suspects in cooperation with the Israel Police,” the military stated.

Israeli forces were said to be “encircling several villages on the outskirts of Ramallah to thwart terrorism, carrying out questioning and searches in the area, and reinforcing defensive efforts along the security barrier.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu also convened a situational assessment with the heads of the defense establishment, his office said.

According to Channel 12 News, Israel’s security agencies believe that the terrorists arrived by car from a village in the Ramallah area of Samaria. They reportedly used locally produced submachine guns. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim Democratic socialist and the presumed frontrunner in the New York City mayor’s race, has big socialist plans for America’s largest city.

WATCH:

Brussels saw an enormous turnout on Sunday as tens of thousands rallied in opposition to Israel.

Local police placed the crowd at roughly 70,000, though event organizers claimed the march drew closer to 120,000. Demonstrators, many dressed in red and holding up red cards, demanded harsher measures against Israel, pointing to the dire conditions in Gaza.

Gregory Mauze, who serves as spokesperson for the Belgo-Palestinian group ABP, declared, “In the face of the ongoing genocide, the measures taken are not yet adequate.”

The protest followed an announcement by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot that Belgium will move forward with recognizing a Palestinian state and introducing strict sanctions against Israel, citing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Prevot strongly criticized Israel’s military campaign, insisting it breaches international law and the duty to avert genocide.

He stated that Belgium would formally acknowledge “Palestine” as a sovereign state, aligning with the position of France and Saudi Arabia, who are expected to present recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

According to his statement, the recognition will only occur once Hamas has freed all hostages and no longer retains political authority over Palestinian Arab areas. In addition, Belgium emphasized its pledge to assist in rebuilding “Palestine” and to step up efforts to combat antisemitism by engaging security forces and Jewish community leaders.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told his ministers on Sunday that he would rather ensure Hamas’s defeat than receive sympathetic coverage abroad about Israel’s downfall.

His statement came after widespread demonstrations inside Israel demanding that the government negotiate a deal with Hamas for the release of hostages and bring the war to an end.

Officials have signaled that Israel is prepared to consider an agreement, but only if all captives are freed at the same time and Hamas is stripped of its weapons and removed from control. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces spent the weekend readying for a ground advance on Gaza City, Hamas’s central base.

Netanyahu’s comments in full were:

“We are intensifying the operation on the outskirts of, and inside, Gaza City. We are eliminating Nukhba terrorists who played a significant role in the October 7 massacre, including the accursed terrorist who called his parents and took pride in having personally murdered 10 Israelis. Now we called the family and informed it that this terrorist has been eliminated. It is a clear message that we will reach them all. I want to thank, on your behalf as well, the ISA and the IDF for doing this important work.

“We are eliminating terrorist infrastructure and nefarious terrorist high-rises. We have established an additional humanitarian corridor to enable the civilian population in Gaza to leave for a safe place and receive humanitarian assistance there. In the meantime, approximately 100,000 people have left Gaza. Hamas is trying to do its utmost so that no one will go and they will stay there in order to serve as human shields for it. By the way, it does not refrain from any means. Only recently we have seen how it shoots women and children in the legs and if necessary, shoots them. Therefore, it is expected that it will try to prevent the exit that is necessary from a humanitarian perspective and from our perspective regarding the war. We want to focus on the terrorists themselves and enable the civilian population to go out.

“On Friday, Hamas issued a cruel and reprehensible video of [hostages] Alon Ohel and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. I must say that I spoke at length with their families on Friday and underscored – on behalf of myself, you and the entire people – our support for them. I must also say that most citizens of Israel, the great majority of the citizens of Israel, are standing steadfast against this psychological terrorism.

“Our effort in Gaza against the last strongholds, in effect last important stronghold, Gaza City, is part of our effort to complete the crushing of the stranglehold by the Iranian axis. This axis was intended to destroy the State of Israel, and by dismantling it and striking it, we are removing an existential threat to Israel, the primary threat.

“We have landed very severe blows on Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, just recently you saw this, and we brought about the fall of the Assad regime. Of course, the peak was the severe blow on the patron of this axis – Iran, and the distancing of the existential of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles over our heads. We will continue this effort until we achieve all of our objectives for the war.

“I am aware of the price that we are paying in the diplomatic and public diplomacy fields for the State of Israel and the best way to get out of this, of course, is to establish completely new mechanisms as we mentioned, and – of course – to end the war as fast as possible with the victory that we have defined: Eliminating Hamas, the return of all the hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again threatens Israel.

“But regarding the public diplomacy damage, I would like to say one thing: If I need to choose between victory over our enemies and malicious propaganda against us, I choose victory over our enemies, as opposed to the opposite. I do not want stories that we have been beaten by our enemies and for us to be eulogized well in the global media. I choose victory.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump voiced displeasure over the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow launched its most extensive drone assault on Kyiv since the start of the war. The escalation has drawn attention to the difficulty his administration has faced in securing a peace agreement, even after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

“I’m not happy, I’m not happy about the whole situation,” Trump said to reporters upon his return to Joint Base Andrews following his trip to New York, where he attended the U.S. Open men’s final.

The president emphasized that no one had taken a harder stance on Russia and Putin than he had. He defended his continuing push to negotiate an end to the fighting.

“I’m not thrilled with what’s happening,” Trump continued. “I believe we’re going to get it settled. I’m not happy with anything having to do with that war.”

Sunday’s strike on Ukraine marked the first time Russia targeted a government building, signaling another intensification of Moscow’s campaign.

Despite Trump’s growing irritation with the lack of progress, the assault suggested that Putin had no plans to reduce his military operations.

When addressing the issue, Trump notably avoided directly criticizing either Russia or its leader.

Asked what he believed was the biggest barrier to achieving peace, Trump refrained from pointing to Putin or the Kremlin.

“Well we’re going to see. We have some very interesting discussions,” he said, adding that European leaders would soon arrive in Washington for talks.

In recent weeks, Trump has made clear his mounting frustration with Putin. On Sunday, he again said he had believed the Russia-Ukraine war would be the simplest conflict to resolve upon resuming office, but it has proven to be one of the hardest.

Trump also spoke about the war in Gaza, sharing confidence that progress was being made there as well.

“I think we’re going to have a deal on Gaza very soon. It’s a problem we want to solve for the Middle East, for Israel, for everyone,” Trump said.

Switching to domestic matters, the president said his administration would soon announce the next focus of its crime crackdown.

“We’re going to make a decision about where we’re going to go in the next day or two,” Trump stated, while criticizing violence in Chicago and insisting that the capital had been secured due to his policies.

Before wrapping up, Trump commented on his appearance at the U.S. Open, where reactions were mixed between boos and applause. He admitted he had not been sure how he would be received in New York City but praised the attendees.

He described the spectators as “great fans.”

{Matzav.com}

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