Matzav

A deepening rift shook Israel’s ruling coalition as Degel HaTorah issued an ultimatum: if the long-promised draft law is not brought to a vote in the Knesset, they will exit the coalition. The unfolding drama has sparked finger-pointing within the government, with one high-ranking coalition figure placing the blame squarely on Shas party leader Aryeh Deri.

“Deri is choosing to ‘burn down the house’ and dismantle the government, while trying to pin the blame on United Torah Judaism,” the source told Arutz Sheva – Israel National News.

The official alleged that Deri had recently blocked a previous effort to disband the Knesset, but is now actively steering the coalition toward collapse. “He’s being dragged by extremist haredi elements into breaking apart the right-wing government over the draft law,” the source said, further claiming that Deri has been leaning on UTJ lawmakers to walk away from the coalition. That pressure, the official noted, ultimately led to Degel HaTorah’s leadership issuing a clear withdrawal directive Monday night.

The official also issued a warning aimed directly at Deri, suggesting political consequences could follow: “He’ll pay a steep price. This will hurt him in the elections. His voters aren’t naive—they’ll flock to Likud,” the source warned.

The crisis escalated earlier in the evening when Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch ordered Degel HaTorah’s Knesset representatives to abandon the coalition unless the draft legislation was immediately introduced. A statement released from Rabbi Landau’s residence indicated that the end of the 17th of Tammuz fast would serve as the government’s final opportunity to act. While a few extra hours were given in hopes of reaching a deal, the ultimatum was clear: failure to deliver means the coalition no longer has their support.

Political analyst Amit Segal reported that Degel HaTorah had previously tried to convince Shas to sign onto a bill that would dissolve the Knesset and force elections. The plan was to secure 61 signatures, but Shas refused, unwilling to be associated with Arab factions backing the move.

Despite that hesitation, Shas insiders are now warning that their own exit from the government may not be far off if the draft bill remains stalled as the Knesset nears the end of its session. “Our patience is running out,” a party official cautioned.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The BBC released the results of an internal probe on Monday into its controversial Gaza documentary, admitting to serious lapses in both editorial judgment and journalistic standards.

The investigation centered on Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone?, a program that was pulled from iPlayer in February after it emerged that the 13-year-old boy narrating the film was the son of senior Hamas figure Ayman Al-Yazouri, who holds the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the terrorist group’s de facto government.

The review found that the documentary violated the BBC’s editorial policy on accuracy. It revealed that three staffers at Hoyo Films, the outside production company behind the program, had been aware of the narrator’s connection to Hamas leadership but never disclosed it to the BBC. Though the broadcaster was not informed of the link before the film aired, the review faulted the BBC for failing to perform adequate editorial due diligence, saying the network was not “sufficiently proactive” in vetting the material.

Responsibility for the breach was primarily placed on Hoyo Films, but the investigation also held the BBC accountable for its lack of fact-checking before broadcasting such sensitive content.

In response to the findings, BBC Director-General Tim Davie committed to tightening editorial procedures. “We are taking this seriously and will implement changes to ensure such errors are not repeated,” he stated.

Hoyo Films, for its part, said it would be reviewing and improving its internal review protocols to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

The scandal drew sharp condemnation from Israeli leaders. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called once again for Davie to resign, saying: “This is not an isolated incident, but part of a systemic problem. The BBC must uphold standards of fairness and accuracy. Its repeated failures only deepen mistrust and contribute to rising antisemitism.”

Haskel also cited previous controversies, such as the BBC’s coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, which she claimed included “calls for death against Israel.” She warned that persistent editorial missteps risk reinforcing institutional bias within the network.

Independent journalist David Collier added fuel to the fire, alleging that one of the film’s producers is a Palestinian activist who praised the October 7 Hamas attacks. Collier also accused the filmmakers of staging segments and pointed to conflicting details surrounding the narrator’s identity — including a November 2023 Channel 4 interview in which the boy reportedly used a different last name and misrepresented his father’s occupation.

The BBC had already issued a public apology earlier this year and confirmed that the documentary would not be made available again on any of its platforms.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported Monday afternoon that a joint operation between the IDF and the Shin Bet (ISA) on June 19, 2025, led to the targeted killing of terrorist Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita in the vicinity of Gaza City.

Quneita served in the military intelligence division of Hamas’ Al-Furqan Battalions. He was among those who crossed into Israel during the horrific events of October 7 and had held Emily Damari captive in his home in the early stages of the conflict.

“The IDF and ISA will continue operating against the terrorists who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre,” the military stated.

Emily Damari was abducted from her residence in Kfar Aza on that dark day. During the attack, she sustained a gunshot wound to her hand, resulting in the loss of two fingers. Her dog was also fatally shot.

{Matzav.com Israel}

United Torah Judaism is intensifying its protest over the continued holdup of the Draft Law, according to a report published by Hamodia on Monday morning.

The report stated that UTJ’s boycott of Knesset activity will now extend beyond just votes, encompassing committee deliberations as well. Senior members of the party have made it clear that if progress on the legislation is not seen soon, they may move to leave the coalition entirely in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Kan 11’s Michael Shemesh reported that Aryeh Deri, head of the Shas party, has instructed his inner circle to prepare for the possibility that both Shas and United Torah Judaism may exit the government together.

Despite this, the report noted that Shas does not intend to side with the opposition or support a move to dissolve the Knesset. Rather, the party would prefer to promote the Draft Law independently from outside the government, even if it means doing so from the opposition benches.

Later on Monday, UTJ is expected to deliberate whether to cooperate with efforts by opposition parties to bring back a vote on dissolving the Knesset, an initiative that has been stalled since its initial failure last month.

On Sunday, it was reported that Yesh Atid began gathering signatures from opposition lawmakers, aiming to reach the 61 needed to submit a formal request to Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana to reopen debate on the dissolution bill. Although the bill was previously rejected, opposition members are now attempting to circumvent the six-month waiting period by arguing that there has been a “change of circumstances” significant enough to warrant renewed consideration.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Elon Musk lashed out at President Trump, criticizing him over a statement defending Attorney General Pam Bondi’s role in the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.

The tech mogul responded on X, the social media platform he owns, to a user who posted a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social remarks from earlier that day. The user captioned the screenshot, “This is in the running for worst post ever made.”

Musk replied bluntly: “Seriously,” and mocked Trump’s post by saying, “He said ‘Epstein’ half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein.”

He followed that up by urging action: “Just release the files as promised,” Musk wrote.

Shortly after, Musk responded to another post that labeled the Epstein case as Trump’s “Achilles’ heel.” He criticized Trump for previously vowing transparency about the Epstein documents and now seemingly brushing the issue aside.

“This is a very big deal,” Musk said. “What the … kind of system are we living in if thousands of kids were abused, the government has videos of the abusers and yet none of the abusers are even facing charges!?”

Earlier in the day, Trump had published a long post on Truth Social defending Bondi after she came under fire. This followed a Justice Department memo released on Monday concluding that Epstein did not possess a blackmail list of elite individuals and reiterating that his 2019 death was ruled a suicide.

Despite that, many within Trump’s base have grown increasingly critical of Bondi, especially after she previously claimed that the so-called client list was on her desk and ready for release.

Trump, however, voiced unwavering support for Bondi, writing in all caps, “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE’S GREAT!”

“What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?’ They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and ‘selfish people’ are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump went on to suggest that the Epstein files being circulated were manufactured by political enemies looking to divide the MAGA movement and discredit his administration.

“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 ‘Intelligence’ Agents, THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,’ and more? They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called ‘friends’ are playing right into their hands,” Trump wrote.

He questioned why his political opponents hadn’t released damaging information from the Epstein documents earlier, if it truly existed, and compared it to the continued secrecy around high-profile historical investigations.

“Why didn’t these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn’t they use it? They haven’t even given up on the John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr. Files,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

The release of the new Mendy Wald medley by Joey Newcomb, produced by Doni Gross, has struck a deep chord with me—and clearly with many others as well.

On the surface, it’s a nostalgic, well-arranged throwback to the golden years of 1990s Jewish music. But beneath the upbeat melodies and familiar tunes lies a sobering truth, one that’s hard to ignore: the meteoric popularity of a medley made up of songs that are over three decades old is, in reality, an unflinching indictment of today’s Jewish music scene.

Let’s be honest. The fact that a collection of songs from the 1990s and early 2000s is currently topping the 24/6 charts in 2025 isn’t just remarkable. It’s revealing. It screams of a generation desperately thirsty for music that means something. Music that’s not just catchy, but heartfelt. Music that doesn’t just fill the background but fills the neshamah. What this medley has accomplished, perhaps unintentionally, is shine a glaring light on what today’s music is lacking.

Yes, we live in an age of digital convenience. With platforms like 24Six, Spotify, and Apple Music, access to Jewish music has never been easier. But with all that accessibility, there’s a glaring absence: the music doesn’t stick. There’s no longevity. No real connection. Ask around: How many people can name the composer of the last hit song? How many know the arranger? How many even know the name of the song they’re humming in the car?

Contrast that with how we related to Jewish music “amohl.” Back then, we knew the songs. We didn’t just hear them. We internalized them. We knew who composed them, who arranged them, who sang the backup vocals. We learned the harmonies by heart. Albums were studied and cherished. Every new release by MBD, Avraham Fried, Dedi and, yes, Mendy Wald, was an event. There was a depth, a soul, a neshama—and yes, a musical integrity that has been slowly and tragically draining out of today’s hits.

Today, songs come and go like the swipe of a screen. Playlists are shuffled, attention spans are short, and there’s no reason to “linger” with a song long enough for it to leave a mark. And maybe that’s because many of today’s compositions simply don’t have what it takes to leave that mark. Too often they feel formulaic, recycled, or empty, songs built around a catchy drop or a trendy beat rather than around a niggun that moves the neshamah or lyrics that elevate the spirit.

And now, here we are, with a medley of songs from an era gone by—songs that were written with care, sung with sincerity, arranged with warmth—suddenly dominating the conversation. The fact that people are not only enjoying it, but enthusiastically sharing and replaying it—and asking for another such medley—says everything. It says that people are starved for authentic music. For music that carries meaning. For melodies that actually last.

While countless new singles come and go, rarely leaving an impression, a medley of 30-year-old songs becomes a sensation. You can’t make this up.

And so, the message is loud and clear. The Jewish music world has talent…tremendous talent. But what it’s lacking is direction. Substance. A willingness to invest in musical craftsmanship and not just musical trends. The audience is not as shallow as some may think. People don’t just want noise. They want music. They want to feel something again. They want the next 1990s album moment—the one you listened to on repeat until the tape got stuck in the player.

This Mendy Wald medley is more than a walk down memory lane. It’s a wake-up call.

Sincerely,
A Frustrated But Hopeful Listener

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{Matzav.com}

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President Joe Biden offered an explanation for why he employed an autopen to sign off on clemency orders, addressing the issue during an interview with the New York Times amid growing scrutiny over the move.

The discussion revolved around the final clemency decisions of Biden’s presidency, when he used an autopen to affix his signature to official documents rather than signing each one by hand.

In the last stretch of his term, Biden granted clemency to over 1,500 people—a move the White House at the time called the most sweeping single-day act of its kind by any U.S. president.

During the Thursday interview with the Times, Biden insisted, “I made every decision” personally.

“We’re talking about [granting clemency to] a whole lot of people,” Biden remarked.

Nonetheless, the Times noted that, based on what Biden and his advisers said, he had not personally vetted every individual included in the large-scale pardons.

“Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, [Biden] signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence,” the paper reported.

Rather than have Biden manually re-sign every updated version of clemency paperwork, aides relied on an autopen to finalize the documents with his authorized signature.

In June, President Donald Trump issued a formal memo to the Department of Justice, instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe whether the use of the autopen reflected an effort to hide any deterioration in Biden’s mental health.

“In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority,” Trump wrote.

“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden’s signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.”

Speaking to reporters that same month, Trump criticized the very idea of using an autopen, regardless of precedent.

“Usually, when they put documents in front of you, they’re important,” Trump said. “Even if you’re signing ambassadorships or – and I consider that important, I think it’s inappropriate.”

“You have somebody that’s devoting four years of their life or more to being an ambassador. I think you really deserve that person deserves to get a real signature… not an autopen signature.”

{Matzav.com}

Elmo, the famously cheerful red puppet from Sesame Street, was at the center of a disturbing online incident Sunday when his official social media account was taken over by an unknown hacker. The breach led to a wave of vile and antisemitic messages, far removed from the character’s usual family-friendly image.

The now-deleted posts shocked users as Elmo’s account, typically associated with educational and positive messaging, suddenly began spewing hate speech and wild conspiracy theories. Among the offensive content was a post that read: “Elmo says ALL JEWS SHOULD DIE. [profanity] JEWS. DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU’S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN EPSTEIN FILES. JEWS CONTROL THE WORLD AND NEED TO BE EXTERMINATED.”

Another post said: “RELEASE THE FILES [Donald Trump] CHILD [profanity] ,” while a separate message simply read: “Kill all Jews.”

Although the disturbing content was quickly removed, no official comment has yet been issued from the account’s handlers or from Sesame Workshop, which owns the Elmo character.

This incident is not without precedent. In the past, major brand accounts have also been hijacked to spread hateful rhetoric. Last year, Ford Motor Company’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a series of anti-Israel messages that appeared out of character for the company.

While Ford didn’t confirm the exact origin of the posts, the automaker told FOX Business that its account had been compromised. “Our X account was briefly compromised and the previous three posts were not authorized or posted by Ford. We are investigating the issue,” the company said at the time.

{Matzav.com}

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A complete handwritten and autographed letter by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler, brother-in-law of the Chazon Ish and father of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, of blessed memory.

The Jewish community of Chicago had consulted with the Steipler regarding efforts to bring back Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth, the Gaavad of Antwerp, to serve once again as Rav in their community. (Rabbi Kreiswirth had taught at Beis Medrash LeTorah in Skokie, Chicago not long before the writing of this letter.)

A troubling new report from the Anti-Defamation League shows that although most Americans oppose antisemitism, a significant portion—one in four—believes that recent violent incidents targeting Jews in the U.S. were “understandable.”

The findings follow a wave of assaults carried out by individuals claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians. These include the April arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. in May, and the firebombing of a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado last month.

“As the Jewish community is still reeling from recent antisemitic attacks that killed three people, it’s unacceptable that one-quarter of Americans find this unspeakable violence understandable or justified — an alarming sign of how antisemitic narratives are accepted by the mainstream,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, in a statement condemning the results.

The survey was conducted by the ADL’s relatively new Center for Antisemitism Research, which aimed to measure how the American public views antisemitism in the wake of these attacks.

The data revealed that 60% of Americans acknowledge antisemitism as a serious concern, and approximately 75% expressed a desire for stronger governmental efforts to fight it. Notably, Democrats were nine percentage points more likely than Republicans to view antisemitism as a serious issue.

The overwhelming majority of those polled rejected the recent attacks, with at least 85% saying the violence was unjustified and morally wrong, and stating that they would not associate with individuals who celebrated such actions. Seventy-eight percent of respondents recognized the incidents as antisemitic in nature.

However, the June 10 poll of 1,000 adults also found a concerning minority who either rationalized or supported the violence. Around 24% agreed that the attacks were “understandable,” and an equal number subscribed to the theory that the incidents were staged to elicit sympathy for Israel. The ADL noted that about half of those who found the violence understandable also believed the events were false flag operations.

Both the Boulder and Washington attackers reportedly shouted “free Palestine” during the incidents. Meanwhile, the suspect in the arson attack on Governor Shapiro’s home told investigators he acted out of anger over “perceived injustices to the people of Palestine.”

The survey also found that 15% of respondents considered the violence “necessary,” while 13% went as far as to describe it as “justified.” The survey allowed participants to rate their level of agreement with each statement.

Perhaps most notably, 38% of those surveyed said they believed that attacks on American Jews would end if Israel announced a ceasefire in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

A newly opened kosher eatery in Athens was the target of a violent attack over the weekend, which the owners have described as antisemitic in nature. Greek officials are treating the incident as a suspected hate crime.

The restaurant, King David Burger, which launched in May in the Greek capital, shared a post on social media Sunday detailing the assault. According to the statement, around 10 p.m. Motzoei Shabbos, six masked individuals stormed the premises and caused significant damage.

The assailants threw flyers throughout the dining area and sprayed hateful slogans on walls and furniture. Messages included phrases like “No Zionist is safe here,” “Smash Zionism, fascism, colonialism,” and “Israel Death Forces — rapists, torturers, murderers.”

Footage from the attack, showing the vandalism in progress, was posted to the restaurant’s Instagram and TikTok accounts, clearly displaying the antisemitic graffiti.

The establishment is situated on Ermou Road, a bustling pedestrian street not far from Syntagma Square. Owned by Israeli entrepreneur Tzvika Levinson, the restaurant was created to cater to both local Jewish residents and visiting tourists, offering kosher fast food in a central location.

“The restaurant displays kosher certification, clearly identifying it with Israel,” Levinson told Yisroel Hayom on Sunday.

Levinson explained that the perpetrators were “pro-Palestinian anarchists” and that the whole incident unfolded within seconds, leaving no time to stop them.

At the time of the attack, all staff members present were Greek citizens, according to Levinson. “My only Israeli employee wasn’t there when it happened — he arrived after it was all over,” he noted.

“When one employee attempted to leave, [the vandals] threatened him, saying, ‘If you come out, it’s over for you,’” Levinson told Yisroel Hayom.

Though he is currently in Israel, Levinson said he stayed in constant contact with his staff as the situation unfolded.

He added that several suspects had been taken into custody and that the incident was being investigated as a hate crime. However, there has not yet been any formal statement from the Greek police on arrests.

Separately, police in Greece confirmed that a leader of the Rouvikonas anarchist group had been brought in for questioning following a pro-Palestinian march on Friday, during which demonstrators wearing black outfits adorned with Palestinian flags marched through central Athens.

Following the attack at King David Burger, supporters of the restaurant arrived almost immediately, even before the scattered flyers were cleaned up, as seen in videos shared on the eatery’s social media.

“We wanted to say that such actions only strengthen us and the understanding of how much strength and unity our people have,” the restaurant said in its statement about the incident.

Operations resumed as normal on Sunday, and the restaurant remained open for business.

Levinson called on the city of Athens to take proactive measures to ensure such attacks don’t recur, stressing the city’s popularity with Israelis.

“Hebrew dominates conversation throughout this Athens neighborhood,” he said. “Over 5,000 Israelis visit daily. Losing this Israeli presence would be tragic.”

{Matzav.com}

According to information shared with Al Arabiya by officials familiar with the ongoing talks, Israel is now weighing possible revisions to the current ceasefire and hostage exchange proposal after Hamas rejected the latest version put forth by the United States.

The report indicates that Hamas has shown interest in returning to the negotiation framework first introduced by Qatar in January, suggesting it may prefer that plan over the American draft.

The alterations being discussed are said to revolve around three key areas, with particular emphasis on where and how far IDF troops would redeploy within Gaza during a truce, and the timeline for a full military pullback.

Palestinian Arab insiders stated that Hamas is calling for Israeli forces to retreat by 700 meters inside the Gaza Strip, and in some sections, as much as 1.1 kilometers.

Still, the group may be open to some flexibility regarding the exact positions of Israeli troops in the field.

That said, Hamas remains adamantly against any continued IDF presence along the critical Morag Corridor in southern Gaza, reportedly viewing it as non-negotiable.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF released the findings of its internal investigation Monday morning into the events that unfolded in Ofakim on October 7, 2023. Spearheaded by Brigadier General Simcha Oren, the report reconstructs the series of incidents from the moment Hamas Nukhba operatives breached Israeli territory until their eventual elimination and the rescue of local hostages.

The investigation reveals that around 6:40 a.m., a group of 15 Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel in two pickup trucks. By 7:01 a.m., the group had reached the Urim junction and headed eastward. At 7:06 a.m., the terrorists began a savage attack in the Mishor HaGefen section of Ofakim, indiscriminately killing civilians.

As they advanced through the neighborhood, the terrorists opened fire on an emergency ambulance, instantly killing the driver. Four minutes later, at 7:10 a.m., the attackers proceeded north via three routes, executing ten civilians along HaGoren, Kramim, and HaTamar streets.

At 7:15 a.m., a small team consisting of a police officer, a civilian, and a cadet from the Bahad 1 officer training base tried to engage the terrorists on Beit VaGan Street. Both the police officer and civilian lost their lives during the clash, while the cadet was wounded.

Just four minutes later, another civilian was gunned down on Pri Megadim Street. At approximately 7:23 a.m., the group of terrorists split up, and five of them forced their way into the Edri family’s home on HaTamar Street, taking hostages.

Between 7:25 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., police units and civilians coordinated efforts to confront the attackers on HaGoren and Kramim streets. They succeeded in killing three terrorists but lost two officers during the intense firefights.

At 7:35 a.m., a different unit, including three police officers and a civilian, encountered and neutralized another terrorist squad. During this engagement, the commander of the Ofakim police station was wounded by a grenade and had to be taken to Soroka Hospital.

Within minutes, from 7:42 to 7:43 a.m., security forces took out two more terrorists on HaChita Street. Sadly, another civilian was killed during the confrontation.

By 8:30 a.m., the Negev Regional Operations Officer made the call to isolate the Edri residence on HaTamar Street, where hostages were still being held. Negotiators began working as tactical units prepared for further action.

The first unit from Bahad 1 arrived at 9:10 a.m. and shortly afterward, a gunfight erupted with three terrorists in a courtyard. A second group of soldiers joined the battle, and by 9:59 a.m., the last terrorist in that particular location had been killed.

Responsibility for the mission was handed over to Yamam, Israel’s elite counter-terrorism force, at 12:45 p.m. After an intensive intelligence-gathering and planning period, Yamam launched a nighttime operation at 2:25 a.m. the next day. They entered the Edri home, killed the four terrorists inside, and rescued the Edri couple unharmed.

A final sweep at 3:30 a.m. led to the discovery and elimination of the last remaining terrorist in the area. All 15 terrorists who had entered Ofakim that morning were ultimately killed.

The IDF acknowledged serious shortcomings in its ability to defend the city that day. Nevertheless, the brave and decisive response of police, soldiers, and ordinary citizens helped minimize further bloodshed. The Yamam team’s flawless execution of the hostage rescue was highlighted as a model of skill and professionalism.

Fighting took place in the heart of a heavily populated area, which made distinguishing between combatants and civilians especially difficult. The investigation also pointed to a critical vulnerability: many homes in the Mishor HaGefen neighborhood lacked fortified safe rooms, leaving residents exposed during the onslaught.

{Matzav.com}

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Donald Trump spoke to the media on Sunday and conveyed confidence that a resolution involving a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release agreement could be within reach soon.
“We are holding talks regarding Gaza, and I am hopeful that we will sort it out in the coming week,” he said.

That same day, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu responded to accusations surrounding the ongoing negotiations over hostages still being held in Gaza. Facing criticism from various media outlets, Netanyahu pushed back strongly against the narrative that Israel is refusing to accept an agreement, stating, “They always echo Hamas propaganda, but they are always wrong. We accepted the deal, the Witkoff deal, and then the version proposed by the mediators. We accepted it, Hamas rejected it.”

Netanyahu made it clear that Hamas’s primary goal is to remain entrenched in Gaza, forcing Israel to retreat so they can rebuild and strike again. He declared, “They want us to leave, so they can rearm and attack us again and again. I will not accept this; I will do everything to bring our hostages home. I meet with the families; I know their pain, I know their suffering. I am determined to bring the hostages home and eliminate Hamas.”

On Saturday night, Channel 12 News revealed that Israel intends to bring revised maps to the negotiation table in Qatar, showing the scope of the IDF’s planned pullback from Gaza.

But according to the same report, Qatari officials have warned Israeli representatives that “the maps presented by Israel will not pass Hamas and may collapse the talks.”

This development came shortly after Kan 11 News reported on Friday night that the discussions in Doha had reached a deadlock. The negotiations, aimed at stopping the war and achieving a hostage deal, have struggled to move forward.

Key issues—such as the exact lines of Israeli military withdrawal, the names of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed, and long-term commitments about ending the war—remain unresolved. However, the report also emphasized that, despite the stalemate, the talks have not significantly deteriorated either.

{Matzav.com}

Ehud Olmert has condemned Israel’s proposed initiative to relocate Palestinians within Gaza into what officials have referred to as a “humanitarian city,” asserting that the project mirrors the characteristics of a concentration camp.

“It is a concentration camp. I am sorry,” Olmert stated during an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, as he addressed the controversial plan introduced by Defense Minister Yisroel Katz last week.

Olmert warned that if Palestinians are forced to relocate to this newly designated area, the move could rightfully be labeled as ethnic cleansing. “If [the Palestinians] will be deported into the new ‘humanitarian city,’ then you can say that this is part of an ethnic cleansing. It hasn’t yet happened,” he said, describing such a development as “the inevitable interpretation” of a strategy that involves erecting a facility to hold hundreds of thousands of people.

He further argued that the intent behind such a mass relocation is not humanitarian at all. “When they build a camp where they [plan to] ‘clean’ more than half of Gaza, then the inevitable understanding of the strategy of this [is that] it is not to save [Palestinians]. It is to deport them, to push them and to throw them away. There is no other understanding that I have, at least,” Olmert said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

New York City Mayor Eric Adams unleashed criticism on Sunday against Andrew Cuomo’s decision to run for mayor as an independent, warning that the move is “wasting time and dividing voters” while inadvertently helping socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani.

Speaking at the Bolivian Day Parade in Queens, Adams, who himself is running as an independent, blasted Cuomo’s refusal to bow out, framing it as a self-serving distraction. He pointed out that Mamdani already defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, a race Adams had skipped by running outside the party system.

“I didn’t lose in the primary,” Adams emphasized, referencing Mamdani’s unexpected victory over Cuomo last month.

“We’re moving straight ahead. It’s so important that we continue to move ahead,” the mayor added, brushing aside any suggestion of reconsidering his candidacy.

When asked directly whether he’d make room for Cuomo by stepping aside, Adams responded with disbelief: “Are you kidding me?”

His campaign later issued a sharply worded statement condemning Cuomo’s political maneuvering.

“This kind of political double-dealing is exactly why so many New Yorkers have lost trust in [Cuomo],” the statement read. “The people spoke loudly — he lost. Yet, he continues to put himself over the number one goal — beating Mamdani and securing our city’s future.

“Now, in the face of a serious threat, an inexperienced opponent, Cuomo is wasting time and dividing voters. He failed them — and he’s failing New Yorkers now.”

Adams, who did not compete in the Democratic primary, argues that Cuomo’s continued presence in the general election would only fracture the anti-Mamdani vote, creating an easier path for the assemblyman from Queens to win.

Recent numbers from a Slingshot Strategies poll show Mamdani in the lead with 35% support. Cuomo trails behind with 25%, followed by Republican Curtis Sliwa with 14%, and Adams at 11%.

Cuomo’s spokesman Rich Azzopardi defended the independent campaign, claiming the former governor still represents the best shot at defeating Mamdani.

Despite his independent run, Cuomo is reportedly seeking a pledge from every non-Mamdani candidate — including himself — to withdraw from the race in September if they’re not in first place in the polls.

That proposal didn’t sit well with Curtis Sliwa, who criticized both Cuomo and Adams while emphasizing his position as the sole major-party contender left in the race.

“Andrew Cuomo lost his primary and hides in the Hamptons,” said Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels. “Eric Adams skipped his and fled to Fort Lauderdale. Now, they’re both running as independents to cling to relevance.”

Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor and another candidate in the mayoral race, said Cuomo’s call for unity was borrowed from his own earlier idea.

“I am glad Andrew has agreed to adopt my pledge,” Walden said. “I hope Eric and Curtis sign on as well. Putting New York’s best interest over our personal ambitions is critical at this moment.”

{Matzav.com}