Matzav

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington seeking long-range Tomahawk missiles, but his meeting with President Donald Trump ended with a mutual decision to halt military escalation and push for an immediate ceasefire. Trump later directed both Moscow and Kyiv to “stop where they are.”

“The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent. This is a War that would have never started if I were President. Thousands of people being slaughtered each and every week — NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!”

Speaking after his White House meeting, Zelenskyy backed the call for a halt to fighting instead of further arming Ukraine. “President Trump is right: We have to stop where we are,” he said. Zelenskyy added that the war can “hopefully” end “without thinking about Tomahawks,” hinting that Kyiv would instead seek expanded intelligence cooperation with Washington as part of broader security guarantees.

Trump’s irritation with the prolonged war has been evident since his return to office, but his latest remarks signal renewed pressure on Kyiv to abandon efforts to reclaim lost territory. Upon arriving in Florida for the weekend, Trump again urged both sides to “stop the war immediately,” and appeared to suggest that Russia might retain the areas it currently holds. “You go by the battle line wherever it is — otherwise it’s too complicated,” Trump told reporters. “You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing, and that should be it.”

This shift in tone comes after Trump had recently expressed a harder line toward Vladimir Putin and greater openness to arming Ukraine. Instead of supplying NATO with Tomahawks that would later reach Ukraine, Trump has chosen to prioritize diplomacy over escalation.

Only weeks ago, after a meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trump said he believed Ukraine could retake all the land lost since 2022—a stark contrast to his current stance that Kyiv should accept a ceasefire along existing battle lines.

Following Friday’s White House talks, Zelenskyy again voiced support for renewed negotiations but avoided directly addressing whether he would consider ceding territory. “The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak,” he said when asked about Trump’s social media post.

Trump’s attitude appeared to shift after a lengthy phone conversation with Putin on Thursday, during which the two agreed to meet soon in Budapest, Hungary. The president also informed Zelenskyy that he was leaning against authorizing the sale of Tomahawk missiles, which Ukraine views as critical leverage to compel Russia to negotiate.

Zelenskyy hinted that Trump’s success in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza gave him hope that the U.S. leader could similarly mediate peace with Moscow—despite the territory Ukraine has lost since Russia’s invasion more than a decade ago.

At the beginning of the White House meeting, Zelenskyy presented a proposal to trade Ukrainian drone technology for the U.S.-made Tomahawks, but Trump voiced concern about depleting American weapons reserves. “I have an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what’s going to happen in war and peace,” Trump said. “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest.”

In a separate interview, Zelenskyy told NBC’s Meet the Press that Trump’s position was not a firm rejection. “It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes,’” he said. Still, he maintained that “we need Tomahawks” because “it’s very difficult just to operate only with Ukrainian drones.”

Trump’s hesitancy disappointed Ukrainian officials, who had hoped for approval to purchase the 995-mile-range missiles. After Thursday’s call with Putin, however, Trump appeared less inclined to move forward, echoing Putin’s warning that providing Kyiv with Tomahawks “won’t change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause substantial damage to the relationship between our countries,” according to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov.

Friday’s meeting marked the fifth time Trump and Zelenskyy have met since January. Trump later told reporters that it was “to be determined” whether Zelenskyy would participate directly in the upcoming talks in Hungary, suggesting separate but coordinated meetings might be more productive. “These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy responded that his stance toward Putin is not personal but based on the ongoing aggression against his country. “They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us. They don’t intend to stop,” he said. “So they are an enemy. It is not about someone just hating someone else. Although, undoubtedly, we hate the enemy. Undoubtedly.”

Trump has long promised to end the conflict quickly, though progress has been elusive. His previous efforts—including a summit with Putin in Alaska and meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders—failed to produce a breakthrough as Russia intensified its offensive.

Asked whether he worries that Putin is merely stringing him along, Trump replied that he was aware of the risk but confident in his ability to manage the Russian leader. “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well,” he said. “I think I’m pretty good at this stuff.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas issued a statement tonight blasting Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s directive to keep the Rafah Crossing closed, accusing Israel of obstructing the agreed-upon exchange process tied to the current ceasefire deal.

Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister’s Office released an official statement outlining Netanyahu’s position: “Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has instructed that the Rafah Crossing not open until further notice. Its opening will be weighed in accordance with the way Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and in the implementation of the agreed-upon plan.”

In response, Hamas claimed that Israel’s refusal “will cause delays in the transfer of the hostages’ bodies under the ceasefire agreement.”

Israeli security sources confirmed that all of the bodies of the hostages are still inside Gaza, contradicting Hamas’s claims that it has fulfilled its obligations.

The Rafah Crossing, which serves as the key passageway between Egypt and Gaza, had been slated to reopen as part of the truce arrangement reached between the sides. But Israel’s decision followed Hamas’s failure to comply with the conditions, particularly regarding the full return of the hostages’ remains.

Earlier in the week, Hamas publicly asserted that it had already returned all the bodies in its custody. Israeli officials, however, dismissed that claim, saying intelligence clearly shows that Hamas retains control over or has immediate access to at least eight additional bodies that have yet to be released.

{Matzav.com}

Edith (Dita) Kraus, a Holocaust survivor who once safeguarded books for children in Auschwitz’s notorious Block 31, passed away today at the age of 96.

Kraus, who kindled one of the memorial torches during the 2014 Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, inspired the acclaimed novel The Librarian of Auschwitz, which was based on her extraordinary courage and resilience.

According to Yad Vashem, Edith (Dita) Kraus, née Polach, was born in 1929 in Prague to Dr. Hans Polach, a respected lawyer, and his wife, Elizabeth. Their peaceful life was shattered when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, and her father lost his job under the new regime.

When Germany began its assault on Poland in September 1939, Dita’s parents sent her to live in a rural village for safety. However, by 1940 she was back in Prague, continuing her education through private lessons. It was around this time, at a sports ground designated for Jews, that she first encountered Fredy Hirsch — a charismatic educator and sports leader whose influence would later change her life.

In November 1942, Dita and her parents were deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto. She lived in the girls’ barracks and worked in agriculture, visiting her grandmother Katharina each evening in a nearby building where she had been placed after being deported with Dita’s grandfather earlier that year.

Despite the harsh and overcrowded conditions, Theresienstadt maintained a thriving cultural atmosphere, with classes, performances, and lectures. Fredy Hirsch played a leading role, promoting physical activity and instilling Jewish identity and mutual responsibility. Dita took part in his programs and also performed in the children’s opera Brundibár. She studied art with Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, a talented artist who encouraged self-expression through drawing. Friedl was later deported to Auschwitz and murdered.

In December 1943, Dita and her parents were sent to Auschwitz, where they were tattooed and confined in the Czech family camp in Birkenau. Her mother became sick and was placed in isolation. Six weeks later, Dita’s father perished, and the young girl was left to convey the devastating news: “I reached the wall of the isolation barrack, the wall behind which my mother lay, and shouted the news to her through the wall.”

At Auschwitz, Dita took charge of a secret library for the children’s block. Under Fredy Hirsch’s leadership, the block became a rare haven where Zionist instructors engaged the children in lessons on history, geography, and Judaism, keeping their spirits alive amid horror. Among the instructors was Otto Kraus, who would later become her husband.

In March 1944, tragedy struck when half the children were killed and Fredy Hirsch also died. Dita continued caring for the few remaining books and children. Two months later, Josef Mengele selected Dita and her mother for forced labor in Hamburg, where they worked under brutal conditions before being transferred to the camps of Neugraben and Tiefstack. In March 1945, they were sent to Bergen-Belsen, liberated weeks later by British forces. Shortly after liberation, Dita’s mother succumbed to illness and exhaustion on June 29, 1945.

After the war, Dita returned to Prague, where she was reunited with her grandmother, her aunt, and Otto Kraus, who had also survived. The two married, built a family, and in 1949 made aliyah to Israel with their son. Both devoted their lives to education, teaching for decades at the Hadassim Youth Village.

Dita and Otto Kraus raised three children and were blessed with four grandchildren.

{Matzav.com}

A delegation of gedolei Eretz Yisroel — Harav Dov Landau, Harav Chaim Peretz Berman (Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, visiting America for the first time), Harav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel (Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim), and Harav Avraham Salim — will be traveling to the United States next week, with stops in Cleveland and Los Angeles, to garner further financial support for Keren Olam HaTorah.

On Monday, October 20, Cleveland will have the zechus of welcoming Harav Dov Landau, who will arrive to be mechazek and inspire the tzibbur in this vital mission.

The day’s schedule will begin with a special children’s gathering at 11:30 a.m., providing an opportunity for tinokos shel beis rabban to meet the gadol hador. At 7:15 p.m., a community-wide asifa for men will take place at the Hebrew Academy, Oakwood Campus, 1516 Warrensville Center Road, where Rav Dov will personally address the tzibbur.

On Tuesday evening, the West Coast will host a historic asifa with Rav Dov and the other gedolim at the Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, beginning at 8:30 p.m., where thousands are expected to join together b’achdus to demonstrate their ahavas haTorah v’lomdeha.

The asifa will also feature divrei hisorerus from Rav Ephraim Wachsman, who will serve as the guest speaker.

Over the past two years, the olam haTorah in Eretz Yisroel has been facing severe and painful government funding cuts, leaving thousands of yeshivos and kollelim struggling to keep their doors open for their bochurim and avreichem. At the urging of the gedolim, Keren Olam HaTorah was founded to ensure that the kol Torah in Eretz Yisroel continues to thrive.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and the First Lady sent a heartfelt letter of condolence to the Orthodox Union following the sudden passing of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, who served as the organization’s Executive Vice President. Rabbi Hauer passed away suddenly on Shemini Atzeres at the age of 60.

In the official letter dated October 16, 2025, President Trump described Rabbi Hauer as “a man of deep faith, wisdom, and compassion whose life reflected an unwavering devotion to the Almighty, to his family, and to the Jewish community.” The President’s message emphasized Rabbi Hauer’s lifelong dedication to serving others and to strengthening the Jewish people.

“As a teacher, counselor, and friend, he dedicated his life to helping others and stood as a fierce advocate for the Jewish people,” the letter read. “His influence endures through the countless lives he uplifted and the communities he helped strengthen.”

President Trump and the First Lady expressed solidarity with the Orthodox Union community during this period of mourning, writing, “We join the Orthodox Union community in mourning Rabbi Hauer and celebrating his remarkable legacy. May the Almighty bless him and may his memory be a blessing to the countless lives he inspired.”

{Matzav.com}

A shocking attack in Lakewood, NJ left a young frum man hospitalized this afternoon after an assailant violently targeted pedestrians walking along Vermont Avenue.

According to witnesses, the victim — a man in his mid-twenties — had been walking with two friends between Chestnut Street and Route 70 when a vehicle suddenly pulled over. Without any warning or provocation, a man jumped out of the car and began assaulting them.

The group was reportedly beaten in a vicious and chaotic attack. One of the men sustained a serious leg injury during the assault.

Lakewood Police and Hatzolah responders arrived within minutes. Emergency medical personnel treated the victim on the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and law enforcement officials are actively searching for the suspect responsible for the unprovoked assault.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department announced today that it had notified the countries overseeing the Gaza ceasefire about “credible reports” suggesting Hamas was preparing to violate the truce with an imminent attack on Palestinian civilians.

“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the department said in its statement.

“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,” it added.

At the same time, Gaza-based media outlets reported that an Israeli naval vessel fired toward the Khan Yunis beach area in southern Gaza.

The development followed Hamas’s return of two additional sets of hostage remains on today, a move reportedly made under pressure from Israel and international mediators working to ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement led by President Donald Trump. The terror group continues to delay the handover of other hostage remains, a key condition of the deal’s first phase.

Hamas issued a statement Friday urging mediators to push forward with the remaining terms of the agreement. The group emphasized the need to finalize the creation of a community support committee tasked with overseeing administration in the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas has tried to reestablish dominance in Gaza, carrying out deadly attacks against rival clans and perceived opponents. Reports indicate that the group has killed at least 32 people in recent weeks as part of its efforts to consolidate power.

President Trump responded forcefully to the violence, writing on Truth Social that “if Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”

He later told CNN that he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its side of the ceasefire agreement.

For the first time since the truce began, the IDF confirmed on Friday that it had struck Hamas operatives, targeting several terrorists who emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and opened fire on Israeli soldiers.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had issued a commutation order freeing former New York Congressman George Santos from federal prison immediately.

“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”

Santos had been serving a more than seven-year prison sentence handed down in April. He had pleaded guilty last year to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, which prosecutors said were part of a scheme to exploit campaign donors, his political party, and his own relatives for personal gain.

His lawyer confirmed that Santos was released around 11 p.m. Friday night.

Santos’ attorney earlier told NBC News that his client was “appreciative” of Trump for “his compassion in seeing the suffering Mr. Santos endured through the prosecution” and for commuting what he called a “draconian sentence.”

“His husband is picking him up right now, and he is overjoyed and thankful to Mr. Trump for the compassion he exhibited in releasing George and in commuting his sentence,” the attorney said.

According to a senior White House official, Trump made the decision earlier in the week after receiving “many” requests urging clemency.

“The reach-outs on this that President Trump got were overwhelming,” another official added. “He heard from so many people, and in recent days he decided it was the right decision. It’s his call, and he made it.”

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia had been lobbying for Trump to intervene on Santos’ behalf. Speaking to NBC News, she confirmed she had been in touch with the Department of Justice about the case but declined to say whether she had spoken directly to Trump.

Greene argued that the punishment did not fit the crime. “George Santos never raped anybody, never murdered anybody, is not a child sex-trafficker. Why is he in solitary confinement?” she said. “That is an extreme treatment for someone for the crimes that he was convicted of.”

Her campaign for leniency began after learning Santos had spent more than a month in solitary confinement. In September, she posted on X that he had been placed there “‘for his safety’ due to threats.” Before reporting to prison, Santos himself had written on X that he “demand[ed] to be kept in solitary confinement for the entire duration” of his sentence, saying, “I refuse to lose my dignity in anyway shape or form.”

Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney, later said that Santos had no “greater friend” than Greene.

Santos began serving his sentence in July at a federal correctional facility in Fairton, New Jersey.

He rose to political prominence in 2022 after winning a congressional seat unexpectedly, but his career quickly unraveled when The New York Times exposed falsehoods in his biography and campaign claims.

By May 2023, Santos faced a federal indictment on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. That October, prosecutors added new counts, bringing the total to 23. Despite mounting pressure, he initially pleaded not guilty and refused to resign.

A subsequent House Ethics Committee investigation concluded there was “substantial evidence” that Santos “violated federal criminal laws,” including misusing campaign money and submitting false financial reports. The findings deepened the outrage within his own party.

In December 2023, after less than a year in office, Santos was expelled from Congress. He briefly attempted an independent campaign to reclaim his seat but abandoned the effort weeks later.

Trump, who has frequently used his presidential clemency powers, has granted pardons and commutations to hundreds, including roughly 1,500 individuals involved in the events of January 6, 2021, and several high-profile political figures such as former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, ex-Cincinnati councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, and Republican politicians Michael Grimm and John Rowland.

In his post about the Santos decision, Trump brushed off concerns about Santos’ record, writing that although Santos was a “rogue,” he was “not as bad as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.” In 2010, Blumenthal apologized for having “misspoken” by claiming he served “in Vietnam” rather than “during Vietnam,” despite never being deployed there.

“This rant is fabricated nonsense,” Blumenthal told NBC News on Friday night. “There’s no excuse for commuting George Santos’ sentence.”

Some Republican lawmakers who voted to expel Santos also condemned Trump’s move. Representative Andrew Garbarino of New York, who sits on the House Ethics Committee, said that serving only a few months of a seven-year sentence was “not justice.”

Representative Nick LaLota, another New York Republican, echoed that sentiment: “George Santos didn’t merely lie — he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty) warrant more than a three-month sentence. He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged.”

Among those angered by the decision was Navy veteran Richard Osthoff, who had accused Santos in 2023 of refusing to release $3,000 raised for his dog’s life-saving surgery through a GoFundMe campaign.

Osthoff said he was “a little pissed off” after hearing of Santos’ release, accusing Trump of showing “disdain for veterans and for military members” and “abusing his powers.”

“My gut dropped; I felt like I was going to throw up,” Osthoff said. “He didn’t serve a drop in the bucket of his sentence, and now he will run around all over the place with a bigger ego and think he can get away with anything.”

{Matzav.com}

A defense contractor stole the spotlight at a major Army aviation summit by unveiling a mysterious aircraft — and then allegedly confessed to being behind the wave of “UFO” sightings that gripped New Jersey last year.

During the Army’s UAS and Launched Effects Summit held at Fort Rucker in August, the private company put on a live flight demonstration of a manned craft that stunned the audience with its strange structure and unconventional aerial maneuvers, an attendee told The Post.

“You remember that big UFO scare in New Jersey last year? Well, that was us,” one of the company’s employees reportedly told a small group after the flight demonstration, according to the same attendee who had been invited to the event.

The contractor’s representative claimed that the company was conducting test flights over New Jersey in November 2024 “to test out their capabilities,” and said that public notification wasn’t required because the operation was conducted under a confidential government contract.

Footage shared with The Post shows the unusual craft — about 20 feet wide with four wings — gliding at low altitude just above the trees while soldiers on the ground looked on in fascination.

“I thought it was the military testing something out on the other side of the base,” said the source, a military veteran and drone specialist, describing their first reaction upon seeing the object in flight on August 12 at Fort Rucker.

“It feels like it’s a UFO because it defies what you’re expecting to see,” the witness continued, saying the aircraft gave off an “uncanny valley feeling” as it silently moved across the sky.

“When it turned you almost completely lose sight of it,” the attendee recalled of the half-hour demonstration conducted within Fort Rucker’s controlled airspace.

“Which is why I think people were seeing this up in the sky and why there were reports of people seeing it and saying it disappeared.”

All individuals present at the conference were pre-screened and cleared by Fort Rucker leadership, who imposed tight security measures for participation, including a total ban on any devices containing Chinese-manufactured components, the source said.

“It would definitely have to be cleared,” the attendee explained, adding, “Somebody was 100% in charge of coordinating that.”

Fort Rucker, which serves as the headquarters for the Army’s Aviation Branch, did not respond to requests for comment.

Reports of unidentified drones over New Jersey first surfaced on November 13, 2024, near the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County, and similar sightings continued throughout the state into early December.

President Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration said in January that much of the activity reported as mysterious drones likely came from hobbyists, recreational flyers, and private pilots.

The Army declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing federal government shutdown.

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish attorney in London was taken into custody by Metropolitan Police officers after wearing a visible Magein Dovid necklace at a pro-Palestinian rally, with police reportedly claiming the Jewish symbol could “antagonize” demonstrators and “cause offense,” according to a report by The Telegraph on Saturday.

The lawyer told The Telegraph that he was handcuffed and held for nearly ten hours, saying the police were attempting to “criminalize the wearing of a Star of David.”

He was detained at approximately 7 p.m. on August 29 during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London. The attorney said he was there to observe the demonstration, documenting illegal activity among the protesters and monitoring the police response.

According to his account, officers restrained his hands behind his back before escorting him into a police vehicle, where he was held for interrogation.

The Metropolitan Police, however, denied that his arrest had anything to do with the necklace, asserting that he was detained for “repeatedly breaching” police instructions meant to keep rival groups separated, The Telegraph reported.

The lawyer maintained that he had filmed as many as 30 examples of criminal behavior from the protesters, none of which resulted in convictions. He also said he was subjected to verbal abuse, including being called a “Zionist baby killer.”

“Police are arguing that wearing a Star of David is antagonising to protesters while we have seen all manner of antisemitic slogans on placards and shouted at Jews that have gone unpunished,” he told The Telegraph, calling the incident one of the starkest examples of what he described as “two-tier policing.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the alleged arrest on X, labeling the incident a “moral disgrace.”

“The Star of David is a symbol of Jewish identity, not provocation. The fact that Jews are warned in central London not to display it publicly shows how rampant antisemitism spread through hateful ‘pro-Palestinian’ marches in Britain has poisoned the streets,” he wrote.

“British Authorities must act: ban antisemitic slogans and conduct a full institutional review,” Sa’ar added.

Left-wing New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani spent part of his campaign week celebrating alongside a Brooklyn imam long accused of extremist ties — including links to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and calls for “jihad” in New York.

The Democratic frontrunner, who has described himself as a socialist, posed beaming next to Imam Siraj Wahhaj at the cleric’s Bedford-Stuyvesant mosque, Masjid At-Taqwa. Mamdani shared the smiling photo on X the day after the first mayoral debate.

Councilman Yusef Salaam of Manhattan, a member of the exonerated Central Park Five, appeared in the picture as well.

“Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century,” Mamdani posted.

He added, “A beautiful Jummah,” referring to the traditional Friday prayer.

Wahhaj, 75, who also leads the Muslim Alliance in North America, was named by federal prosecutors as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center that killed six people. He publicly defended the perpetrators, accusing the FBI and CIA of being the “real terrorists.”

The imam has consistently denied any involvement in terrorism.

During the trials that followed the bombing, Wahhaj took the stand to defend Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, the “blind sheikh” from Egypt who led a radical Islamic network, describing him as a “respected scholar.”

According to a foreign intelligence assessment obtained by The Post, Wahhaj — born Jeffrey Kearse — once delivered a sermon urging followers to form an army of 10,000 men to carry out a “gun-free jihad” through the streets of New York.

“I pray one day Allah will bless us to raise an army, and I’m serious about this,” he said, telling his audience, “don’t pick up a gun, no. Just march. March through the city of New York.”

“Let them hear your voice. Let them hear it at night. Let them hear it 24 hours, until the whole city can’t sleep.”

“We were very close, recently. We had made intention to raise an army of 10,000 men in New York City,” Wahhaj said.

“Muslim men to go fight in the way of subhanahu wa ta’ala,” he added, using a phrase that means “glory be to Allah.”

The intelligence document stated that “the evidence demonstrates that Mamdani’s political trajectory has not only been supported by activist movements but also reinforced by endorsements and alliances noted in figures with a documented history of extremist views and activities, posing a direct national security threat to New York City and the U.S.”

The same report highlighted Wahhaj’s anti-gay rhetoric, noting that he once condemned homosexuality as “a disease of this society.”

“And you know, brothers and sisters, you know what the punishment is, if a man is found with another man?” he once said, according to a sermon first exposed by Islamic Watch in 2017. “The Prophet Mohammad said the one who does it and the one to whom it is done to, kill them both.”

The report added that Wahhaj discouraged physical violence against LGBTQ people, urging his followers instead to “invite them to Islam and make them feel uncomfortable.”

“The fact that Mamdani stands with this imam is disqualifying,” Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa declared.

“New York needs a mayor who protects New Yorkers from terrorism, not embraces terrorists.”

In 2018, Wahhaj again made headlines when three of his children were arrested in New Mexico after authorities discovered 11 minors living in squalid conditions in a makeshift desert compound.

Prosecutors said one of the children claimed that Wahhaj’s son was training two boys to wage war against non-believers, teaching them hand-to-hand combat and rapid reloading drills.

Investigators concluded that Wahhaj had homeschooled his family and likely influenced the radical ideology of the group.

Wahhaj, however, insisted he was the one who alerted police to his son’s behavior, which led to the arrests. His children were sentenced to life in prison last year.

Andrew Cuomo, the onetime governor now running for mayor as an independent, blasted Mamdani for publicly aligning himself with Wahhaj despite the imam’s extremist record and history of anti-gay remarks — and for doing so shortly after posing with Ugandan Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca, who championed some of the world’s harshest anti-LGBT legislation.

“[Mamdani] is proud to be standing with an unindicted co-conspirator in the 93 World Trade Center terror attack that killed New Yorkers?” Cuomo told The Post.

“The same person who preaches radical hate toward the LBGTQ community, just weeks after Mamdani was caught posing with a family-friend Ugandan politician who passed a law sentencing gay people to jail for life? When people tell you who they are, you should believe them — and Zohran, wipe that smile off your face.”

The intelligence report also identified Wahhaj as a mentor to activist Linda Sarsour, the Brooklyn-based Palestinian-American organizer known for her anti-Israel rhetoric.

Sarsour, a close ally of Mamdani, has been a key figure in his mayoral campaign.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced today that he has given Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu a deadline to act against Hamas and to impose the death penalty on terrorists. He warned that if his demands are not met, his far-right Otzma Yehudit party would withdraw from the governing coalition.

“What I want, and this is also what Netanyahu promised me, is the dismantlement of Hamas, and if he doesn’t dismantle Hamas, he knows very well what will happen,” Ben Gvir stated during an interview on Channel 12’s Meet The Press. He refrained from specifying the length of the deadline he has set for Netanyahu, which also includes the implementation of capital punishment for terrorists—a commitment he claimed was included in his party’s coalition agreement in 2022.

Ben Gvir recently issued a warning that he would leave the government if Hamas “continues to exist” after the release of hostages. He emphasized that his party would not participate in “a national defeat” or “eternal disgrace,” and would oppose any scenario allowing the terrorist organization to rebuild after hostilities end.

He was among a small group of ministers who opposed the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire last week, which involved exchanging Palestinian prisoners for hostages held by Hamas. US President Donald Trump has said this move could lead to a lasting resolution to the conflict. Earlier this year, Ben Gvir’s faction temporarily withdrew from the coalition in protest against a previous partial ceasefire and hostage deal.

A senior government official told The Times of Israel that ministers only voted on the “first phase” of Trump’s broader peace plan for Gaza. The official noted that they did not discuss the entire plan and clarified that they did not endorse ending the conflict entirely.

According to Trump’s proposal, once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who agree to peaceful coexistence and disarmament would receive amnesty. Those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage to their destination countries. The territory would be governed temporarily by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.

Hamas has signaled that it would impose significant conditions on these terms, and negotiations are expected to be challenging. Recent days have seen the terror group strengthening its position in Gaza, including executing Palestinians it accuses of collaborating with Israel.

Today, Ben Gvir argued that enforcing the death penalty for terrorists was “moral” and would serve as a deterrent against future kidnappings. “Netanyahu promised me this for the last two years. Every time I asked, our dear prime minister, whom I respect very much, told me: ‘Listen, Ben Gvir, we have hostages, the hostages will be released alive and we will do it,’” he explained.

He concluded by asserting, “Now there are no excuses. The prime minister knows I am serious.”

{Matzav.com}

Across more than 2,600 locations nationwide, millions of Americans gathered today for mass “No Kings” rallies, expressing their disapproval of what they describe as authoritarian tendencies within President Donald Trump’s administration. The protests, organized by the Indivisible network alongside other grassroots movements, coincided with the ongoing federal government shutdown and marked the third large-scale demonstration since Trump’s return to office.

Organizers portrayed the initiative as a stand for democratic values against what they called “abuses of power.” The effort, led by the No Kings coalition and its partner groups, encouraged demonstrators to wear yellow as a visual sign of unity and optimism, underscoring their message of civic resistance conducted through nonviolent means.

Crowds gathered in major cities including Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, waving American flags and displaying messages emphasizing patriotism and democratic ideals. Participants shouted chants such as “No kings, no queens, no fascist USA” and “This is what democracy looks like,” pushing back against Republican claims that the events reflected “Hate America” sentiment. Some attendees added a touch of humor and creativity, donning inflatable animal costumes reminiscent of earlier protests in Portland.

“Millions of everyday Americans from every walk of life peacefully took to the streets and declared with one voice: No Kings,” the organization said in a statement on its website. The message condemned militarized policing, economic favoritism toward elites, and other policies it described as threats to democratic governance.

Local chapters provided training sessions on topics such as protest safety, de-escalation techniques, and knowing one’s legal rights. Organizers also streamed live video from events nationwide to include supporters who couldn’t attend in person. On social media, participants flooded timelines with photos and videos of yellow banners, ribbons, and peaceful crowds gathered under the shared message of civic unity.

The Trump administration has not yet issued a response to the demonstrations. However, protest leaders said their aim was not just opposition, but a reminder that “the power belongs to the people” and that continued participation in public life is vital to protecting American democracy.

Today’s “No Kings” mobilization extended the momentum of earlier public protests, showcasing how decentralized grassroots movements can still rally millions to engage in coordinated political action across the United States.

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Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Russia of deliberately working to isolate Iran from the international community, just days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed him for including a controversial sanctions clause in the 2015 nuclear deal.

Speaking at a gathering in Tehran, Zarif asserted that Moscow has long maintained two strict “red lines” in its dealings with Tehran — that Iran should never be allowed to have normal diplomatic or economic ties with the world, and that it should avoid direct military confrontation. “That is why Russia supported the Geneva interim agreement. It kept the wound open but prevented conflict,” he said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Lavrov earlier this week attributed the creation of the “snapback” mechanism — which enables the swift reinstatement of UN sanctions if Iran violates the nuclear accord — to Zarif, calling it “largely Zarif’s creation” and describing it as a “legal trap” for Tehran.

In response, Zarif defended the inclusion of the clause, saying it was added at the last stage of negotiations to replace a far worse proposal initially presented by Moscow and Paris. “Mr Lavrov and the French had suggested a very bad plan on the status of previous UN Security Council resolutions, and we worked hard to replace it,” he explained, according to IRNA.

Zarif said the mechanism later adopted into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was designed to ensure no single member state could use its veto to block or prolong sanctions.

For years, Iranian hardliners have lambasted Zarif for agreeing to the snapback mechanism, claiming it left the country vulnerable to renewed UN sanctions.

Last month, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom invoked that same snapback provision, reinstating sanctions on Iran for obstructing inspections and rejecting negotiations. The decision was made over the objections of Russia and China.

In a 2022 leaked audio recording, Zarif alleged that Moscow actively tried to derail the 2015 nuclear agreement, saying that “Russia made every possible effort in the final week to stop the agreement from being concluded.”

Zarif went further this week, accusing Russia of revealing classified details about Iran’s military and diplomatic affairs — including General Qassem Soleimani’s trip to Moscow and information about Iranian drone shipments used by Russia in the war against Ukraine. “They were the ones who made those public,” he said.

Lavrov, however, has maintained that Russia fully backed both the JCPOA and the UN resolution that approved it. He noted that the final call on the deal “was made directly by Zarif and Kerry,” while Russia and other nations participated only as observers.

The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 under President Donald Trump. Following that decision, Iran steadily rolled back its compliance and, by 2019, had resumed enriching uranium to higher levels than permitted under the agreement.

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President Donald Trump revealed that the U.S. military carried out a strike in the Caribbean that destroyed a “very large drug-carrying submarine,” killing two alleged narco-terrorists and taking two others into custody. Trump also released footage of the operation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the submarine was transporting “fentanyl and other narcotics” along a “well known narcotrafficking transit route” toward the United States. He claimed the mission may have saved up to 25,000 American lives by preventing overdose deaths.

“It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE,” Trump wrote. “U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl… There were four known narcoterrorists on board. Two of the terrorists were killed.

“The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution.”

Fox News has confirmed that two survivors were pulled from the sea by the U.S. Navy following the strike and are currently being detained aboard an American naval vessel. Trump’s post provided the first official confirmation of their identities and home countries.

This marks the sixth time U.S. forces have intercepted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel since military operations began in the Caribbean last month. The Pentagon has yet to publicly announce the name or code designation of the ongoing campaign.

Trump first mentioned the incident publicly during a White House meeting Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs,” he told reporters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking later in the day, declined to dispute reports about survivors, saying only that additional information would be shared when appropriate.

Earlier in the week, Trump confirmed that he had authorized CIA operations in the region. U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers also conducted a visible “show of force” mission near Venezuelan territorial waters on Thursday.

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President Donald Trump believed Israel had gone too far following its failed September 9 strike on Hamas’s senior leadership in Doha, according to remarks by his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner in an interview aired Friday.

Kushner made the comment alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff during a joint appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes. The two men, both instrumental in crafting the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal, are featured in an interview set to air in full on Sunday.

“I think both Jared and I felt, I just feel we felt a little bit betrayed,” Witkoff said, referring to Israel’s decision to strike Hamas leaders gathered in Qatar’s capital—a move that jeopardized delicate ceasefire talks mediated by Doha.

“It had a metastasizing effect because the Qataris were critical to the negotiation, as were the Egyptians and the Turks,” Witkoff explained. “We had lost the confidence of the Qataris. And so Hamas went underground, and it was very, very difficult to get to them.”

According to Kushner, the fallout from the strike convinced Trump that “it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests.”

Israel’s domestic opposition quickly seized on the revelations. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid posted on X that the comments amounted to an “earthquake,” adding that “no Israeli government has ever been described this way by an American administration.”

Lapid elaborated, “After the failed attack on Doha, Trump thought Netanyahu had lost control, and imposed a deal on him that Netanyahu didn’t want. The ’60 Minutes’ interview proves that it could have been arranged for Egypt to govern Gaza and help us fight Hamas. Instead, Netanyahu’s lack of control led to the entry of Turkey and Qatar, two of Hamas’s ideological partners.”

Following the botched Doha operation, Trump publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Israel, saying he was “very unhappy” about the attack on what he called a “strong” U.S. ally and that he had not been given adequate advance notice of Israel’s plans.

In the aftermath, Trump pledged that the United States would protect Qatar from future attacks and ensured that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu formally apologized to Doha. The strike failed to eliminate its intended Hamas targets but resulted in the deaths of several lower-ranking Hamas operatives and a Qatari security guard.

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Late tonight, Hamas handed over the remains of two Israeli hostages to the IDF through the mediation of the Red Cross.

The transfer came after an earlier announcement by Hamas’ military wing, which said it would deliver the bodies of two deceased captives to Israel at 10:00 p.m. local time.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., the IDF confirmed that the Red Cross was en route to a designated handover site in southern Gaza, where multiple coffins containing the remains of hostages would be received.

“The IDF requests that the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification, which will first be provided to the families of the hostages,” the statement added. “Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages.”

According to Hamas, the bodies were discovered in Gaza earlier in the day.

Israeli security officials have stated that Hamas is fully aware of the locations of additional deceased hostages and has the ability to transfer them at any time. Estimates suggest that the group could immediately release at least eight more bodies if it chose to comply.

If the identities of the bodies delivered on Saturday night are confirmed as those of Israeli hostages, Hamas would still be holding the remains of sixteen others. The IDF believes more transfers are likely to take place in the coming days.

Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement responding to the delay in Hamas’ compliance, declaring that the Rafah Crossing will remain shut until further notice.

“Its opening will be weighed in accordance with the way Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and in the implementation of the agreed-upon plan,” the statement read.

The Hostages Families Forum expressed support for the decision but urged Israel to take a firmer approach. “At the same time, the Israeli government must not rely on the mediators – it must show a strong position against Hamas and demand the return of all 18 hostages, with no exceptions, and use all leverage it has. The government must declare that it will not continue to implement the agreement until all of the deceased hostages have been returned, in accordance with Trump’s plan.”

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The Gerrer Chassidus mourns the passing of Reb Yechiel Menachem Mendel Hertz z”l, one of its most venerable and distinguished chassidim of Ger, who passed away at the age of ninety-nine. He was niftar at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.

Reb Mendel, as he was affectionately known, was born in Poland to his father, Rav Yitzchok z”l, and his mother, Mrs. Chana Leah a”h. He was among the few remaining chassidim who carried direct memories of prewar Poland and was the last living Gerrer chossid who had actually traveled to the Beis Medrash of Gur in Poland during his youth, a nesiah that remained etched in his heart for life.

In the Gerrer community, there are still several elderly chassidim who recall seeing the Imrei Emes zt”l during his final years in Yerushalayim . But Reb Mendel was unique. He alone had merited to travel to Gur itself in Poland before the war. He would often reminisce with deep yearning about those sacred days and the luminous atmosphere that surrounded the Rebbe and his chassidim.

A man of great modesty and deep scholarship, Reb Mendel devoted his life to Torah study, constantly producing original insights in learning. He was known to avoid public attention and would never speak of his age or personal past. Out of humility and fear of the ayin hara, he also refused to be photographed.

When reporters from Hamodia sought to interview him, Reb Mendel firmly declined, maintaining his lifelong discretion and humility. Within the Gerrer community, he was revered as a relic of an earlier, purer generation.

The levayah took place on Friday, beginning at the Sanhedria Funeral Home and continuing to Har Tamir in Har Hamenuchos for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

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A massive demonstration is planned for this Sunday in Manhattan, where thousands are expected to gather outside the Israeli Consulate to protest the proposed draft law in Israel. The rally will bring together the two Satmar Rebbes and communities from across the spectrum of Chassidic groups in New York.

The demonstration comes in the wake of the recent ceasefire agreement reached through the mediation of President Donald Trump. Organizers explained that Satmar has long maintained a policy of refraining from public protests against Israel during wartime, and that the current timing reflects the end of hostilities. They emphasized that the purpose of the rally is to call for the cancellation of the draft decree and to advocate for the continued protection of bnei yeshivos who remain detained in military prisons.

The gathering represents an unprecedented joint effort between both Satmar factions—those led by the brothers, the Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel and the Rebbe of Williamsburg—alongside numerous other Chassidic courts from across the United States.

During Simchas Torah, both Satmar Rebbes addressed the issue before thousands of followers at their respective ne’ilas hachag gatherings.

The Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel declared, “The chareidi Jews of New York are rising in a great protest against the treif government in Israel that decrees the conscription of yeshiva students. We are going to participate and cry out, ‘Hoshana lema’an datecha!’ We need a great salvation for the sake of Torah—they are trying to break those who study Torah in our holy land. Everyone must take part in this massive protest.”

The Rebbe of Williamsburg stated, “We remember how many tears the Vayoel Moshe shed and how deeply he grieved over the breaches in holiness throughout the world and especially in Israel since the founding of the state, when they began uprooting Torah. There has never been a time of distress for Yaakov like this. Fires burn, thousands of Jews are in danger, and they sacrifice themselves for Torah, ready to be imprisoned. It is our duty to stand by them, to give them strength and support.”

He added, “The Vayoel Moshe said that holding protests removes Hashem’s wrath over the decrees. As his students, we must remember this and fulfill our obligation to protest.”

The rally is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. Sunday on Manhattan’s Second Avenue, directly across from the Israeli Consulate.

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The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, headed by MK Boaz Bismuth, anticipates that the Draft Law will reach the stage of formal approval in November, according to a report by Kan Reshet Bet. The legislation is set to move forward following committee deliberations over the coming weeks.

The current version of the Draft Law was crafted through ongoing dialogue between Brigadier General Shai Taib, who leads the IDF’s Human Resources Planning Division, and representatives of the chareidi political factions. These include Shas MK Yinon Azoulay and former minister Ariel Atias. The discussions came in response to the military’s stated need to increase recruitment numbers.

On Thursday, Bismuth handed over the framework of the proposal to the committee’s legal advisor, attorney Miri Frankel-Shor. Using this outline, a formal draft of the bill will now be prepared and brought before the committee. The proposal is expected to be presented shortly, with discussions scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The framework relies on understandings previously reached between the committee’s former chairman, MK Yuli Edelstein, and the chareidi parties prior to the Iranian assault on Israel. Under those agreements, recruitment targets were set at 4,800 chareidi men in the first year, 5,700 in the second, and approximately 50% of each eligible group within five years. If those goals are not met within a year, both personal and institutional penalties will take effect.

Among the proposed penalties are limits on obtaining a driver’s license, restrictions on international travel, loss of discounts for public transportation and home purchases, and disqualification from educational scholarships.

Notably, the draft that Bismuth is submitting excludes several of the additional provisions that had appeared in Edelstein’s version of the bill—such as the installation of a biometric monitoring system and the requirement for yeshiva students to sign in three times daily to confirm attendance.

{Matzav.com}