Matzav

Critics are casting doubt on the validity of a new resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) that accuses Israel of committing genocide, after it was revealed that membership in the organization could be purchased for as little as $30. The revelation coincides with a notable surge in membership following October 2023.

Until this past Wednesday, anyone could sign up for IAGS by paying an annual fee that varied according to income.

The cost ranged between $30 and $125, granting participants access to the group’s activities, including the ability to vote electronically on resolutions—such as the one passed on Monday concerning Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Honest Reporting board member Salo Aizenberg and Middle East analyst Eitan Fischberger showcased on social media just how simple it was to become a member, sparking a flood of new sign-ups. Applicants even used names like Adolf Hitler and Star Wars’ Emperor Palpatine to mock the system.

“It turns out literally anyone can join this body and vote on matters that make international headlines – like the resolution claiming Israel is committing genocide,” Aizenberg wrote on X/Twitter.

He went on to say, “Yes, there are some legitimate academics who are members. But when an organization with no standards, no transparency, and no accountability makes sweeping pronouncements about ‘genocide,’ it isn’t scholarship – it’s politics masquerading as scholarship. And everyone deserves to know the difference.”

By Wednesday night, the group disabled its online membership application form. Those who had recently signed up, including Fischberger, were quickly placed into “inactive” status.

“I want my $30 back,” Fischberger told The Jerusalem Post.

While IAGS did not issue an immediate response regarding the controversy, critics pointed out that the ease of entry coincided with a dramatic jump in membership numbers since October 2023.

Internet archives showed that on October 2, 2023, the association’s roster contained around 150 members. By April 2024, that figure had grown to 280, and by the time of the latest resolution, it had climbed to 440.

Aizenberg raised questions online about how the vote was conducted. A press release dated September 1 stated that 28% of members participated in the ballot, with 86% voting in favor.

The resolution that passed declared that “Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF released images on Thursday of Hamas Rafah Brigade commander Muhammad Shabana sharing a meal underground with other operatives in March, just weeks before he was killed in an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis.

According to the military, the photographs were discovered at the site of the May 13 airstrike that eliminated both Shabana and senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar beneath Gaza’s European Hospital. The pictures show Shabana and fellow operatives partaking in a Ramadan iftar banquet inside a tunnel, surrounded by dishes of falafel, meats, fish, vegetables, flatbreads, and fried foods. Other images depict him dining with his family earlier in the year.

“Luxurious breakfast and lavish meals during the war: This is what the life of the terrorist commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade looked like over the past year,” wrote Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, on X.

He further remarked that while “residents of the sector were forced to break their Ramadan fast with the scraps left by Hamas, the organization’s leaders were celebrating in the tunnels with a grand feast.”

Adraee also accused Hamas of spreading lies to the world. “With one hand, Hamas runs a media campaign about ‘starvation’ in the sector, and with the other, it plunders food to feed its leaders and their families. Time and again—the images, unlike Hamas and its mouthpieces in the media, do not lie,” he said.

Shabana assumed command of the Rafah Brigade in the 2014 Gaza war after three of its senior leaders were eliminated. He controlled four battalions, among them the elite Nukhba force that spearheaded the October 7 atrocities in southern Israel. He had survived several assassination attempts in the past, including during Israel’s ground incursion in Rafah.

His end came through a complex strike in which the air force dropped more than 50 precision bombs in under half a minute, engineered to demolish Hamas’s subterranean headquarters without harming the European Hospital above. Israel confirmed the elimination of Shabana and Sinwar three weeks later.

The IDF’s release of these photographs coincided with the publication of a study by Israeli scholars arguing that allegations of genocide against Israel are based on distorted data and weaken international law.

The paper, published by Bar-Ilan University’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, stated: “Those who accuse Israel of genocide erroneously suggest that most civilian casualties in Gaza were entirely unjustified from a military standpoint, portraying those cases in which deaths do seem unjustified not as outliers but as part of a broader, systematic, and deliberate policy of extermination by the IDF. The small number of instances involving persuasive supportive evidence of intentional killings by military personnel does not support this accusation.”

The authors also highlighted Hamas’s battlefield methods, contending that the group “consistently employs Gazan civilians as ‘human shields’ to deliberately increase casualties and, in turn, amplify international pressure on Israel.” They described Hamas’s underground system as “over 500 kilometers” long with “5,700 connective shafts, all integrated into the civilian infrastructure of the Gaza Strip.”

Reports have further indicated that Hamas and allied gangs seized control of about 85% of the aid trucks entering Gaza, which carried food, water, medicine, and other supplies. According to TPS-IL, Hamas distributed access to these convoys to gangs in exchange for cash, provisions, and vouchers. These gangs were paid $10,000 monthly to run checkpoints and secure Hamas’s control of aid.

On October 7, Hamas killed around 1,200 people and abducted 252 Israelis and foreigners from communities near the Gaza border. Of the 48 hostages still unaccounted for, it is believed that roughly 20 remain alive.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A Palestinian-American activist who has acted as an informal go-between for the Trump administration and Hamas said Wednesday that Washington has now put forward a final American framework aimed at both halting the fighting and securing the release of the hostages in Gaza.

Speaking to the Saudi broadcaster al-Arabiya, Bishara Bahbah explained, “There was a meeting in Washington that, according to what I know, lasted six hours, and it was decided that there would be one final proposal on the table: the release of all the [hostages] and an end to the war.”

Although Bahbah does not hold an official position in the U.S. delegation, he has been functioning as a messenger between Trump’s team and the Hamas leadership.

Earlier in the day, Hamas signaled it was prepared to consider a sweeping arrangement, but Israeli officials quickly dismissed that as a public relations maneuver.

In his remarks to al-Arabiya, Bahbah said he had “contacted Hamas about the matter [of a comprehensive deal], and they were skeptical — they didn’t know if it was something official.”

According to him, once Hamas leaders saw U.S. President Donald Trump post publicly about ending the conflict, they “were convinced it was official, and immediately responded that they agree to this deal.”

On Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement declaring its readiness “to enter into a comprehensive deal in which all enemy prisoners held by the resistance will be freed in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners held by the occupation.” In its own terminology, Hamas labels the hostages it abducted as prisoners.

The organization also said it would support the creation of “an independent national administration of technocrats” to govern Gaza.

Israel, meanwhile, has reiterated that five conditions must be satisfied for the war to be concluded: the liberation of all captives, Hamas’s disarmament, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, continued Israeli security oversight there, and “the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that does not indoctrinate for terror, does not dispatch terror, and does not threaten Israel.”

Hamas’s announcement followed a direct demand by Trump on his Truth Social platform: “Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!”

Trump’s post appeared to reference the figure Israel believes represents the number of living captives still held. Of the 48 total hostages, Israel has formally confirmed 26 deaths and expressed deep concerns about two others. Families of those confirmed dead have voiced anguish that any deal might abandon the remains of their loved ones in Gaza.

Bahbah stated that Trump is applying intense pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the U.S.-backed arrangement and terminate the conflict, a message he relayed directly to Hamas.

He argued that the war “could be ended in two weeks” if the parties engaged sincerely in the talks, adding that there are more “positive signs” now than at any previous stage.

Despite those comments, Israeli officials on Wednesday night dismissed Hamas’s declaration, with the IDF pressing forward with its operations in Gaza City.

“This is more spin by Hamas, containing nothing new,” the Prime Minister’s Office asserted.

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a similar response, urging Hamas to comply with Israel’s terms — chiefly the release of all hostages and disarmament — or else see Gaza City “become like Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” accusing the group of spreading “deceive and utter empty words.”

Reacting to Netanyahu and Katz, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid argued that while Israel need not yield to Hamas’s stipulations, it could not remain idle. “You can’t not even try to return our hostages home,” demanded Lapid, calling for immediate renewal of negotiations.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli President Isaac Herzog traveled to the Vatican on Thursday, where he held an audience with Pope Leo XIV. During his visit, Herzog also sat down with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States.

Herzog used the meetings to emphasize Israel’s ongoing efforts to secure the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for nearly 700 days. He reminded the Vatican leaders that 48 hostages remain in captivity, underscoring the urgent danger to their lives and the deep suffering endured by their families. He urged stronger international involvement to expedite their release and appealed to the Pope to personally meet with the families of those still imprisoned.

The conversations also focused on the alarming rise in antisemitism around the world, as well as the need to safeguard minority populations in the Middle East. Herzog highlighted the vulnerabilities of Christian communities and the Druze population in Syria, while also affirming Israel’s commitment to the welfare of Christians living in Israel, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza. Vatican officials raised the issue of humanitarian concerns in Gaza, and both sides exchanged views on interfaith dialogue and a range of bilateral and regional issues.

As part of his visit, Herzog toured the Vatican Archives and Library, continuing the longstanding tradition of cultural and historical exchange between Israel and the Holy See.

At the conclusion of the visit, Herzog expressed his gratitude to the pontiff. “I am deeply thankful to Pope Leo XIV for the warm welcome today at the Vatican,” he said.

Turning to the ongoing war with Hamas, Herzog restated Israel’s determination to bring the hostages home. “Above all else, Israel is striving in every possible way to bring home the hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas. Israel yearns for a day when the peoples of the Middle East – the Children of Abraham – will live together in peace, partnership, and hope.”

Appealing to religious leaders worldwide, Herzog urged collective action. “All leaders of faith and goodwill must stand united in calling for the immediate release of the hostages as the first and essential step toward a better future for the entire region.”

He also reaffirmed Israel’s unwavering commitment to religious freedom and the protection of Christians across the region. “The State of Israel is committed to freedom of religion for all faiths and determined to continue working for peace, tranquility, and stability throughout the region. Israel is proud of its Christian community and dedicated to ensuring the security and well-being of Christian communities in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.”

Herzog concluded with praise for the Pope’s global influence in advancing peace. “The Pope’s inspiration and leadership in the struggle against hatred and violence, and in promoting peace around the world, is valued and vital. I look forward to deepening our cooperation for a better future of justice and compassion.”

{Matzav.com}

The wave of arrests targeting yeshiva students who have not reported to army induction centers continues. In the early hours of Thursday morning, military police arrived at the Bat Yam home of Neaanel Maor Yitzchak, a student of Yeshiva Hameyashar led by Rav Binayahu Shmueli, and took him into custody.

According to details that surfaced only later, the 2:30 a.m. arrest was connected to new draft orders issued after the expiration of Israel’s previous conscription law. The student had regularly filed deferments while the law was in effect. After its cancellation, he was summoned this past January but did not appear, following the guidance of leading rabbinic authorities.

Following his detention, Yitzchak was brought to the Tel Hashomer holding facility, where he faced a disciplinary hearing before a military officer and was sentenced to 20 days in prison. He was subsequently transferred to Prison 10 in Kfar Yona.

For more than a day after his arrest, no contact was possible. It then emerged that he had already been tried without legal representation. Under current procedures, detainees may only communicate with a lawyer before trial, or afterward if they themselves initiate contact from prison.

After receiving instructions through his family, Yitzchak finally made contact Thursday morning with his attorney, Shlomo Hadad. “This morning the young man reached out for the first time,” Hadad said. “We will pursue every legal avenue to shorten his detention.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gave an unusual interview on Thursday to the Israeli Telegram channel “Abu Ali Express,” bypassing the mainstream media. In the over 30-minute conversation, Netanyahu addressed the ongoing war in Gaza, the fate of the hostages, and Israel’s broader regional strategy.

Speaking about Hamas, Netanyahu declared: “There are two options: either surrender or destruction. If the surrender option doesn’t work, there will be Plan B – destruction.” He emphasized that his comments referred to Hamas itself, not the civilian population of Gaza. “I cannot detail the timelines,” he added, “but I assume there will be unexpected developments.”

Netanyahu explained why the war is taking longer than some had hoped, comparing Gaza to Mosul in Iraq. “There was a city called Mosul that dozens of countries went to attack. There weren’t 30,000 terrorists there—only 3,000—and it still took nine months to conquer them. Gaza is much more complicated. They built a dense urban system with tens of thousands of terrorists, booby traps, and weapons. It takes time.”

He noted that beyond the direct fight against Hamas, Israel is also contending with regional threats. “On the second day of the war, I said we are changing the face of the Middle East. It was clear to me we are not only fighting Hamas, but also Assad’s regime, the Houthis, and Iran itself.”

Asked whether the war will end before the next Israeli election, with hostages returned and new peace agreements signed, Netanyahu replied cautiously: “I will not reveal details here. We have plans both to defeat Hamas and to bring back our captives. As for peace with Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t depend only on us. It depends on eliminating Hamas and ending the war. In such a scenario, I believe new opportunities will open—both with Saudi Arabia and with other states.”

Netanyahu said the war could end “tomorrow” if Hamas lays down its weapons, returns the hostages, and Gaza is demilitarized under a secure framework. He suggested that the Strip should then move toward civilian governance “by people who do not fund terrorism.”

On the idea of voluntary migration from Gaza, Netanyahu pointed to Palestinian surveys indicating that at least half of the population wants to leave. “This is not mass expulsion, not part of our war plan,” he said, “but it could certainly be a result. People want to go—just open the gate.”

When asked about the possibility of a future clash with Iran, Netanyahu recalled his longstanding warnings. “For years I said we will not allow Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons. Recently they tried to bring in 20,000 ballistic missiles. We acted on that principle. We eliminated leaders like Haniyeh and others. We eliminated Nasrallah, which many didn’t believe possible. We removed the existential double threat of nuclear arms and their ambition to stockpile 20,000 missiles. Our response depends on them. I don’t think it’s in their interest to push this further.”

He concluded by pointing to unrest inside Iran: “There is a yearning to break free from the tyranny of the regime. In the end, it depends on them. But there are many cracks, a lot of destabilization.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a joint press briefing in Quito, Ecuador, alongside Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was questioned on Thursday about Israel’s consideration of extending sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, as well as the recent suspension of visas for Palestinian Authority officials.

Rubio began by pointing out the problems within the Palestinian Authority itself. “The Palestinian Authority has its own set of problems: ‘pay-for-slay,’ they pay people to kill Israelis, we have problems with them too,” he remarked.

Speaking about nations that have chosen to recognize Palestinian statehood without negotiations, Rubio said: “We told all these countries, ‘If you guys do this recognition stuff, which isn’t even real, you’re going to create big problems. There is going to be a response from Israel, you’re going to make it harder to reach a ceasefire, and it may even trigger these sorts of actions’ (enacting sovereignty over Judea and Samaria).”

He explained that the US has been monitoring the matter carefully but avoided giving a direct opinion. “Other than to tell you that we predicted that this would happen. We warned everybody that it would happen, but nonetheless, some of these people decided to move forward with something that’s illusory.”

Rubio then turned to the broader conflict, stating, “Right now we should focus on how we should end this war in Gaza, how do you eliminate Hamas, how do you disarm Hamas? That end could end tomorrow if Hamas would just disarm, surrender, and release the 20 hostages who shouldn’t even be there. It would end, but Hamas refuses to do that.”

Returning to the debate over sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, Rubio emphasized that it remains unsettled. “That’s not a final thing, that’s something that’s being discussed among some elements of Israeli politics, I’m not going to opine on that today. What I will say is that was totally predictable, we told all these countries before they went out and did this, we told them that if they went through with this there wasn’t going to be a Palestinian state, becayse that’s not how a Palestinian state would happen, becayse they have a press conference somewhere, and we told them that it would lead to these reciprocle actions, and it would make a ceasefire harder.”

He also pointed out how recent moves by European powers backfired. “The day the French announced that thing, Hamas walked away from the negotiating table. They immediately increased their demands and stopped negotiating. So we also warned that that would happen, and it did. But sometimes these guys don’t listen, and they do what they gotta do because of their domestic politics. These are consequences of that.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF’s campaign in Gaza City has reached a new stage, with Israeli forces steadily tightening their hold over key parts of the territory. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the army’s spokesperson, reported on the progress and said the military is now in control of a substantial portion of the city.

“We hold 40% of the city of Gaza. Our forces are maneuvering within the city—specifically in the Zeitoun neighborhood and on the outskirts of northern Shuja’iyya,” Defrin stated.

He continued by explaining the military’s trajectory and what might follow. “We are moving toward the defeat of Hamas in Gaza City. What comes next? Decisions will need to be made. If no other solution is found, there will be military governance.”

Defrin also made it clear that the military’s top leadership is united in its vision. “The Chief of Staff, his deputy and the commander of the Southern Command – there is no difference of opinion between them. They believe in the plan to conquer Gaza City.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling today dismissing a petition lodged months ago by the Students’ Union that sought to revoke state support for yeshiva students, including those who had not yet been called up for military service and are not currently of draft age under Israeli law.

The case was thrown out on procedural grounds, though Chief Justice Yitzchok Amit hinted to the petitioners that they could file a revised version that addresses the deficiencies.

The petitioners argued that students in yeshivas receive unfair advantages compared with those studying in universities and other institutions of higher education.

They asked the Court to strike down state subsidies for yeshiva students who are not subject to military service, maintaining that the grants—channeled through the institutions themselves—constitute an “evasion” of the ban on funding yeshiva students who are otherwise required to enlist.

Beyond the demand to cut hundreds of millions of shekels now allocated to religious schools, the petition also urged the Court to require the government to create a monitoring system ensuring proper transfer of funds. Without such oversight, they insisted, the state should be barred from directing money to religious institutions altogether.

Government attorneys responded by stressing that financial support for yeshivas is “the implementation of the government’s socio-economic policy that lies at the core of its authority and discretion.” They explained that the subsidies follow transparent, legally established criteria. On the claim of unequal treatment, the government replied, “religious institutions and institutions of higher education do not belong to the same equality group.”

Officials further maintained that the Ministry of Education already carries out sufficient supervision in compliance with the law. They noted that scholarships funded by the state may rightfully be distributed by religious institutions, since such payments fall under legitimate operational expenses, and therefore should not be considered improper.

In its decision, the Court stated the petition “suffers from a generality that does not allow for an efficient and proper examination of the claims and remedies contained within it.”

The justices pointed out that the petition bundled together a wide array of demands with little connection to one another, targeting multiple ministries and agencies, with each demand requiring distinct factual and legal foundations not provided by the filing.

Justice Yitzchok Amit, who authored the opinion, made clear that although the petition was inadequately drafted, certain issues within it may merit judicial discussion if resubmitted properly. He encouraged the petitioners to refile in corrected form and refrained from levying any court costs.

Amit wrote, “Our statements do not detract from the importance of some of the issues raised in the petition,” while emphasizing that any new petition must first pass through all legally required procedures.

{Matzav.com Israel}

An eight-year-old child from Gaza, who had been reported dead in late May after an alleged Israeli strike, has now been confirmed alive following a highly complicated rescue mission overseen by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The announcement, confirmed by Fox News and The Daily Wire, ends weeks of global speculation about his fate, after the case became a flashpoint for debate and outrage around the world.

The boy, whose name is Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden but who is more commonly called Abboud, became the centerpiece of a dramatic story advanced by Tony Aguilar, a former GHF contractor. Aguilar claimed the boy—whom he referred to as “Amir”—was killed on May 28 outside a GHF aid hub by IDF fire. He circulated bodycam video along with a vivid and emotional story, which quickly spread across social media and was even raised by members of the U.S. Congress.

After weeks of investigation, GHF discovered that Abboud was in fact alive and with his mother, Najlaa. On August 23, the two turned up at GHF’s Secure Distribution Site 3. From there, they were escorted to safety and taken out of Gaza to an undisclosed location. “Outside the Gaza Strip is nice,” Abboud remarked during an interview that Fox News later confirmed as authentic.

To ensure accuracy, GHF used both facial recognition tools and biometric data, comparing new images of Abboud with those from the original May 28 distribution center incident. This confirmed that the child Aguilar filmed was indeed Abboud. Video published by Fox News Digital also showed the boy smiling and playing with aid workers, further validating his safety.

Additional reporting from The Daily Wire revealed that Abboud had left the custody of his stepmother in July and had been living in secrecy with his biological mother ever since. GHF staff, made up of military veterans and local personnel, conducted a covert operation to track him down and remove him from dangerous circumstances.

Rev. Johnnie Moore, who serves as Executive Chair of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, issued a statement underscoring the significance of the development: “We are overjoyed and deeply relieved that Aboud is safe, and that this story ends in hope. That outcome was never guaranteed, and it’s thanks to the courage and persistence of our team of American heroes, veterans who never stopped working to find him and bring him to safety in the most complex environment imaginable. While this story ends happily, it could have ended in tragedy.”

Moore also faulted those who rushed to amplify Aguilar’s story without confirming details. “Too many people, including in the press and civil society, were quick to spread unverified claims without asking the most basic questions. When a child’s life is at stake, facts must matter more than headlines.”

GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay told Fox News Digital and The Daily Wire that Abboud and his mother are now in a secure location. “We will not be disclosing their whereabouts at this time for their safety and security, but we have every belief that they are on their way to a new life,” he said.

Najlaa, speaking for the first time since their escape, shared her appreciation: “My son and I suffered a lot. But we thank God. I thank everyone who helped me and stood by me.”

Aguilar had initially alleged that Abboud was fatally shot after thanking him for food. But Fox News and The Daily Wire later uncovered numerous contradictions in his accounts. Aguilar shifted his story multiple times, claiming at various points that the event occurred near SDS 1, SDS 2, and SDS 3. GHF later clarified that Aguilar’s role would not have allowed him access to the places or views he claimed, due to site restrictions and barriers.

The group also said that no incident of IDF fire on civilians took place at any GHF secure facility on May 28. Aguilar, who was dismissed in June for what GHF described as poor job performance and erratic conduct, has nonetheless persisted in retelling his version of events.

GHF concluded its statement by urging the media to exercise greater responsibility in handling sensitive stories and highlighted the dangers of amplifying misinformation. The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to delivering aid in Gaza and to continuing its humanitarian mission despite the challenges.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Nelson Mandela’s grandson has claimed that the conditions Palestinians face under Israeli rule are harsher than the oppression experienced by Black South Africans during apartheid. He appealed to the international community to rally behind the Palestinian people.

Mandla Mandela, age 51, gave the remarks to Reuters on Wednesday evening from Johannesburg Airport, just before flying to Tunisia. There, he will join a flotilla attempting to bring humanitarian aid and food into Gaza despite Israel’s naval blockade.

“Many of us that have visited the occupied territories in Palestine have only come back with one conclusion: that the Palestinians are experiencing a far worse form of apartheid than we ever experienced,” Mandela said.

“We believe that the global community has to continue supporting the Palestinians, just as they stood side-by-side with us.”

Israel has repeatedly rejected parallels drawn between its policies toward Palestinians and South Africa’s apartheid regime, which imposed minority white rule over the Black majority population.

The Israeli government also maintains that its strict controls on the entry of goods into Gaza are necessary to prevent Hamas from acquiring weapons.

At the same time, the World Food Programme has reported that hunger and malnutrition are widespread in Gaza.

Mandela will travel with ten South African activists as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of dozens of vessels and hundreds of participants from 44 nations. Among them is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

South Africa’s African National Congress issued a statement of support, declaring that the initiative “echoes our own struggle for liberation.”

Mandela reminded that apartheid in South Africa only ended after significant international sanctions and diplomatic isolation forced change.

“They isolated apartheid South Africa and finally collapsed it. We believe that the time has come for that to be done for the Palestinians,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump has privately urged contenders in the New York City mayoral race to scale back their campaigns within the coming week, in hopes of blocking a socialist from taking over City Hall, The New York Post reports.

On Sunday, Trump phoned billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis — who has connections to both Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa — and voiced alarm about the possibility of Democrat Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken socialist, winning in November.

“He is concerned about the New York City race. He does not want a socialist mayor, and he said, ’It’s not going to happen’ under his watch and wants a person under his watch,” Catsimatidis told The Post.

In a move without precedent for a president in a New York City mayoral contest, Trump made clear he wanted the crowded race narrowed within 10 days.

“At the end of the next 10 days, he wants the most qualified candidate to beat Mamdani,” Catsimatidis said.

When pressed about Trump’s exact intentions once the deadline hits next Wednesday, Catsimatidis would only respond, “He’s going to do whatever he has to do.”

According to individuals familiar with Trump’s thinking, the president is considering ways to persuade both Sliwa and Adams to step aside so that ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo could run as the leading challenger.

This strategy is not tied to Trump’s personal feelings about Cuomo, but to polling since the primary that continues to show Cuomo consistently holding second place, Sliwa trailing in third, and Adams slipping into fourth.

Trump and party insiders believe Cuomo stands the strongest chance of defeating Mamdani, pointing to surveys that reveal Mamdani’s support plateauing while his unfavorable ratings remain unusually high for a Democratic candidate.

The disclosure of Trump’s phone call, which had not been revealed until now, comes on the heels of reports that senior White House aides have been searching for a role for Adams in order to push him to abandon his independent re-election campaign.

“While other candidates have quit their jobs, Mayor Adams hasn’t walked away from his responsibilities,” said Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro. “He is running for re-election not because he needs another position, but because he believes deeply in the future of this city and has a proven record of getting things done.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump asserted early Thursday that the violence plaguing Chicago could be eliminated if local leaders accepted his assistance, saying he could “fix it in one month.”

“The Mayor and Governor should be begging me for help. Crime is out of control in Chicago, potentially one of the greatest cities in the World (Again!). I could fix it in one month!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His remarks followed a New York Post article that detailed the toll of shootings over the Labor Day weekend: eight killed and at least 58 injured in 32 incidents. The report noted that Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson continued to push back against Trump’s idea of using the National Guard.

Trump’s comments came as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker indicated that hundreds of federal agents could arrive by the weekend. Local officials in suburban areas were told to prepare for about 300 federal immigration officers who would be conducting heightened enforcement actions.

“They haven’t confirmed any of that to us, but what we’re hearing is that they’ll be assembled, ready to go on Friday, and that they will begin actions on Saturday,” Pritzker told the press, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Pritzker, a Democrat, has consistently dismissed Trump’s call for National Guard intervention, arguing that it’s both unneeded and an overreach of power. Trump has continued to press the issue, while his campaign has used the clash as a tool for rallying supporters.

A fundraising message sent out this week proclaimed “WE’RE GOING INTO CHICAGO” and encouraged backers to “LIBERATE CHICAGO – SAVE AMERICA – STAND WITH TRUMP!” according to the Tribune.

The Tribune also quoted Trump saying, “The Radical Left Governors and Mayors of crime-ridden cities don’t want to stop the radical crime. I wish they’d just give me a call. I’d gain respect for them. This isn’t a political thing; we have the right to do it because I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE!”

Trump has cited the example of Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who sought federal assistance in New Orleans, suggesting that he might focus on that city before Chicago.

“We have a great thing going. I could do that with Chicago. We could do that with New York. We could do it with Los Angeles,” Trump said this week. “So we’re making a determination now, do we go to Chicago, or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor?”

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that there were “no immediate plans” for National Guard deployment in Chicago when asked about Trump’s suggestion and possible timelines, Newsmax reported.

Trump has long pledged to intensify federal crackdowns in Democrat-run cities such as Chicago. On Tuesday, he once again vowed to send in troops, though he gave no concrete details.

Chicago officials have already braced for possible federal activity. Activists distributed “emergency protest” alerts, promising to take to the streets within hours if such intervention begins.

{Matzav.com}

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are once again preparing for the annual pilgrimage to Uman. With Ukraine’s skies still closed to civilian air traffic due to the ongoing war, most travelers will pass through neighboring countries such as Moldova, Romania, and Poland. To ensure a smooth journey and avoid the chaos that has plagued previous years, airports and local authorities—together with Ichud Breslov organizers—have issued a detailed set of travel instructions.

Maintaining Order and Cleanliness

Organizers stress that one of the key challenges in past years has been the lack of cleanliness and order in airports. Leaving garbage or mess in public spaces has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and international media, creating what they describe as a serious chilul Hashem. Activists warn that such conduct could jeopardize future landing rights in places like Romania, where significant diplomatic efforts were invested this year to secure flights. Authorities have stated they will deal harshly with violations, urging travelers to respect public spaces and avoid any behavior that could cause embarrassment to the Jewish community.

Toy Guns Strictly Forbidden

Travelers are also reminded not to purchase or carry toy weapons, including BB guns and similar items, which are sometimes legally sold in Ukraine. While considered harmless inside Ukraine, at European border crossings and airports they are classified as dangerous weapons because of their resemblance to real firearms. Possession or transport of such items can result in arrest, questioning, heavy penalties, and even a ban on entering the country. Border police have made it clear: avoid buying or carrying any toy guns at all.

Airport Arrival Times

Romanian airport authorities have announced new restrictions to prevent overcrowding. This year, passengers will not be permitted to enter the terminal earlier than three hours before their flight. Anyone arriving too early will be denied entry to the terminal area. Travelers are urged to check their tickets carefully, plan their transportation from Uman to the airport accordingly, and spread the word so that all pilgrims comply and avoid a repeat of last year’s airport chaos.

Cigarette Limits

European Union customs regulations allow only small amounts of tobacco for personal use when crossing borders. In most land crossings, travelers are permitted to bring no more than 40 cigarettes per person—equivalent to two packs. Exceeding that limit is considered smuggling and can lead to confiscation, heavy fines, or even denial of entry. Authorities in Poland and elsewhere have said they intend to strictly enforce this rule this year, with rigorous inspections expected.

Restrictions on Medications

Special caution has been issued regarding medications that contain narcotic or controlled substances, such as Ritalin, Concerta, and various sedatives. Carrying such medications without proper documentation can be treated as drug smuggling, a serious offense that may result in arrest, fines, or imprisonment. Pilgrims who require these medications are advised to prepare in advance:

• Obtain a doctor’s note in English (and ideally in Ukrainian and the language of the transit country) listing the generic and commercial name of the medication, dosage, and medical necessity.

• Have the note notarized for legal validity.

• Carry only quantities appropriate for personal use, in original pharmacy packaging.

• Include a personal declaration with travel dates to confirm the medicine is for private consumption only.

Smoking Bans in Airports

Another important reminder: smoking inside airports on the way to Uman is strictly forbidden. In many European airports, designated smoking rooms have been eliminated altogether. Those who wish to smoke must exit the terminal and re-enter through security, causing unnecessary delays. Smoking in prohibited areas can lead to fines, immigration penalties, or even a travel ban. Breslover organizers emphasized that beyond the legal consequences, discarded cigarette butts and disorderly behavior create a negative impression and constitute a chillul Hashem.

Final Word from Organizers

Ichud Breslov leaders are appealing to all travelers to follow the guidelines scrupulously, stressing that the annual trip to the kever of Rav Nachman is a spiritual journey. “Please respect local laws and sanctify Hashem’s name,” they urge. “Avoid conduct that could cause shame or difficulties for others. Careful adherence to the rules will help ensure the success of the pilgrimage for years to come.”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

We are watching Klal Yisroel unravel before our very eyes, and instead of addressing the collapse, everyone keeps pretending that all is fine. It is not fine. It is not fine at all. The system — the very structure that is supposed to uphold us, guide us, protect us — has failed. Completely. Catastrophically. And we are the ones paying the price.

Families are drowning in financial ruin. Tuition is sky-high, rent and mortgages are crushing, food prices are unbearable, and every simcha becomes a test to see if the baalei simcha can make it to the finish line without having a heart attack. And that’s not an exaggeration.

Parents max out credit cards just to survive, and the mosdos don’t care — they claim they’re choking as much as the families choke. Where is the compassion? Where is the accountability? Nothing.

Our schools’ financials are in shambles. Teachers, the lifeblood of our children’s chinuch, are treated like beggars, underpaid and undervalued, while administrators often play power games. The classrooms are overcrowded, and if a kid doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter mold, he’s tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage.

Is this what we call chinuch? Is this what we’re so proud of? We are sacrificing entire generations because the system refuses to adapt, to care, to see every child as a neshama.

And let’s talk about the shidduch crisis — a crisis that everyone cries about and no one actually solves. Girls sit waiting, with no solution in sight.

Broken hearts pile up. Broken homes pile up. And broken dreams pile up.

Shalom bayis? Forget it. We are surrounded by couples on the verge of collapse. Financial stress, lack of guidance, emotional exhaustion — it’s a recipe for disaster, and it’s everywhere. How many homes are filled with silence, tension, or outright warfare? How many children are growing up in households where love has been replaced by resentment? Too many. Far too many.

Machlokes is the air we breathe. Shuls are split, neighborhoods divided, institutions at war with each other. Ask yourself: when was the last time you saw true achdus? We hide behind slogans of unity, but in practice, it’s jealousy, politics, control, and ego.

Simple Yidden are left confused, disillusioned, and bitter.

Our youth are walking away. Why shouldn’t they? What do they see? Hypocrisy. Double standards. Parents who preach values they don’t practice. Schools that break children’s spirits instead of raising them up. Why are we shocked when boys and girls run from it all? The only surprise is that more haven’t yet.

We’ve turned simchos into competitions. Instead of celebrating milestones with humility, we are pressured into outspending our neighbors. The photographer, the flowers, the gowns, the catering — it’s a bottomless pit of expenses that bury families alive. We’ve replaced meaning with show, joy with debt.

Our kollelim and yeshivos — where is the money to sustain them properly? We build monumental buildings, but we can’t pay rabbeim on time. We have wealthy donors funding all types of funds around the world, but our own communities in the Diaspora are drowing. Literally.

Chessed? Too often it’s become a photo-op, a brand, a fundraiser. Chesed is often drowned out by glossy campaigns and PR stunts.

Leadership? Don’t get me started. Where is it? Who is standing up and addressing these crises head-on? Who is gathering Klal Yisroel and saying enough is enough? Instead, we get silence. Or worse — meaningless speeches and soundbites.

The system keeps spinning its wheels, protecting itself, while families, children, marriages, and entire communities collapse.

And what about mental health? Swept under the rug. How many teenagers and young adults are crying themselves to sleep, suffering from crushing anxiety, depression, and trauma, while we keep pretending everything is perfect? How many suicides will it take before the silence ends?

We are a nation spiraling — addicted to money, divided by egos, choked by dysfunction, crippled by a system that no longer works. We are sick. And the sickness comes not from the bottom but from the top. The system is broken. And worst of all, the will to change is broken.

Yes, there are bright spots. Yes, there are beautiful families and acts of greatness. But stop telling me about the bright spots when the house is burning down. Stop distracting us with slogans and photo-ops while Klal Yisroel falls apart.

It is time to stop pretending. It is time to start screaming. It is time for accountability, for courage, for truth. Because if we keep going like this, there won’t be anything left to hold together.

Sincerely,
A Member of Klal Yisroel

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{Matzav.com}

During an appearance on Newsmax TV’s “The Chris Salcedo Show” Wednesday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blasted Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, describing him as a “disgusting, racist bigot.”

The day before, at a press conference, Pritzker had commented on the treatment of immigrants. “In a circumstance where they’re simply celebrating their heritage, they shouldn’t be interrupted in this way. This is the aim of this government. They don’t actually care if you’re here and undocumented, they just care if your skin color is a little off of theirs and that you’re Latino, they’re going to just target you. All of us need to speak up and speak out about the assault on just regular residents who are following the law, who are going to work, paying their taxes, who’ve been around in our city for ten, 20, 30 years. We ought to be protecting those people. And if they want to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, they ought to be able to do that without being terrorized by ICE.”

Responding to that statement, Cruz said on the program, “Yeah, look, I got to say, I had not heard that particular clip. Chris, you really know how to piss me off. What a disgusting, racist bigot J.B. Pritzker is. You and I are both Latino and listen, I don’t want to get between J.B. Pritzker and the Domino’s Pizza line, but I’ll tell you what I am willing to get between is him and his open doors for every human trafficker, every drug trafficker, every MS13 and Tren de Aragua gang member.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

More than 1,000 present and former staffers at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have endorsed a public letter calling on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down from his position as Health Secretary.

The statement, issued under the banner of Save HHS, charged Kennedy with undermining the well-being of Americans while also assisting in what they described as constitutional violations. Copies of the letter were forwarded to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“We swore an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution and to serve the American people. Our oath requires us to speak out when the Constitution is violated and the American people are put at risk,” the letter declared. “Thus, we warn the President, Congress, and the Public that Secretary Kennedy’s actions are compromising the health of this nation, and we demand Secretary Kennedy’s resignation.”

The document also outlined what it said were Kennedy’s specific failings, among them dismissing CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez, selecting appointees hostile to MRNA vaccines, and opposing the use of coronavirus shots.

“Rescinding the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines without providing the data or methods used to reach such a decision,” the letter charged. “Disparaging the American Academy of Pediatrics for recommending the COVID-19 vaccine in children.”

Responding to the criticism, HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon told ABC News that the CDC “has been broken for a long time” and emphasized that “sustained reform and more personnel changes” would be needed to rebuild confidence in the institution.

“From his first day in office, [Kennedy] pledged to check his assumptions at the door — and he asked every HHS colleague to do the same,” Nixon’s statement continued. “That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again.”

In addition, Kennedy authored an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday in which he accused the CDC of having wasted “public trust,” noting that he had been appointed by Trump to “restore that trust and return the CDC to its core mission.”

{Matzav.com}

After a week of hospitalization and recovery, the Belzer Rebbe was released Thursday afternoon from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim. He returned to his residence in Kiryat Belz to continue resting and recuperating following surgery on his leg performed on Sunday.

Upon his arrival back home, chassidim greeted him with heartfelt singing of “Ki Orech Yamim Ushenos Chaim.” For the time being, there will be no kabbalas kahal during the month of Elul, with future schedules to be announced by the chassidus.

During the Rebbe’s hospitalization, Belzer chassidim poured out their hearts in prayer for his recovery.

The Rebbe also received a personal visit from his brother-in-law, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, who was at Hadassah for medical treatment of his own.

All are asked to continue their tefillos for Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani, the onetime mayor of New York City, said in a Newsmax interview on Wednesday that he is recovering following a serious accident in New Hampshire last weekend that left him with a fractured vertebra.

Speaking on “Greg Kelly Reports,” Giuliani shared details about the crash, his injuries, and his appreciation for President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“I am on the mend,” Giuliani told host Greg Kelly. “It was quite a hit. We got banged in the back. I have — technically, I have a broken back. It’s a fracture. It hurts, but it’s getting better. And I have about two or three weeks of rehabilitation.”

According to Giuliani, he and his aide Ted Goodman had stopped to assist a woman who appeared to be in danger and claimed she was a victim of domestic violence. Authorities later determined that she had actually assaulted a man and placed her under arrest, Giuliani said.

As Giuliani and his team began to leave the scene, another incident occurred.

“As we were driving away, we got hit in the back by a young woman,” Giuliani said. “I’m sure she was rubbernecking because there were police cars, ambulances, even a fire truck. She was going very, very fast … We got hit like hell.”

The impact left Giuliani with whiplash and a fractured thoracic vertebra. He explained that his seat belt kept him from being thrown forward.

“I was in terrible pain right away,” he said.

Not long after the crash, Trump announced that Giuliani would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian award. On Truth Social, Trump praised his longtime ally as the “greatest mayor in the history of New York City” and an “equally great American patriot.”

Giuliani, who became a symbol of resilience during the September 11 attacks and later stood as one of Trump’s staunchest defenders, said the award gave him comfort and lifted his spirits.

“It’s a nice medal. I forgot what it looked like. I have to tell you, that cured me,” Giuliani said.

“President Trump takes some credit for curing me from COVID … and now he’s cured me of a fractured back, because the minute I got that award, all the pain went away. The hell with the pain.”

{Matzav.com}

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