Matzav

A heart-stopping incident unfolded late Motzoei Shabbos at the Kosel, when a toddler from a chareidi family began suffering a severe allergic reaction after exposure to an allergen. In a twist of Hashgachah, a newly married man who had come to the Kosel to give thanks found himself in the right place at the right time — and saved the child’s life.

The hero of the night was Moti Hoffman, a volunteer with United Hatzalah, who had gotten married just days earlier. The chosson had come to the Kosel to daven. While there, he was approached by a panicked father with his young son, desperately seeking help.

“The father and toddler came over during davening and asked for help,” Hoffman recounted. “They said he had a severe allergic reaction after being exposed to an allergen. I immediately administered an EpiPen — an auto-injector that delivers a measured dose of adrenaline — which I had on me thanks to United Hatzalah.”

The injection stabilized the toddler’s condition, and he was quickly transported by a United Hatzalah ambulance to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital for further treatment.

“After the injection, his condition improved,” Hoffman added. “He was then taken by ambulance for continued care.”

Thanks to Hoffman’s fast response and calm under pressure, what could have been a tragedy ended with a sigh of relief and a powerful reminder that sometimes, a visit to the Kosel brings more than tefillos. It brings miracles.

{Matzav.com Israel}

New revelations from Egyptian journalist and Islamic movement expert Ma’ar Faragly have brought to light unprecedented details from inside Hamas in the days leading up to the October 7 atrocities. One of the most explosive claims is that top officials within the terror group had been plotting to strip Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar of much of his authority—or even oust him altogether.

Faragly, citing sources with direct access to decision-making circles in Hamas, reports that prior to the October 7 attack, there was an active effort to replace Sinwar with another figure of Turkish origin. Sinwar, who was expected to remain subordinate to the group’s military wing, caught wind of the plan and reportedly declared he would “not surrender Gaza except as heaps of rubble.” This may help explain the timing of the attack, which occurred just one day before the anticipated arrival of his would-be successor.

These revelations align with a prior scoop by journalist Ben Caspit in Maariv, which noted that a treasure trove of intelligence was recovered by Israeli forces following the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar. Among the materials was a highly sensitive document laying out, in chilling detail and in the words of Hamas leaders themselves, the rationale behind the October 7 offensive, the leadership’s mindset, their coordination (or lack thereof) with allies such as Hezbollah and Iran, and their complete operational plan — built around the belief that this assault could lead to the destruction of the State of Israel.

The document, a lengthy and detailed letter, was authored jointly by Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Marwan Issa. It was addressed to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Brigadier General Saeed Izadi, commander of the “Palestine Corps” within Iran’s Quds Force. It was discovered inside the bunker where Sinwar had been hiding along with Hamas’s top military commanders, alongside an extensive cache of internal communications, letters, operational plans, and correspondence between Hamas leaders and foreign contacts.

Evidence suggests that this letter was dispatched by Deif, Sinwar, and Issa on the morning of October 7, either just before or shortly after the Nukhba terrorists launched their deadly invasion of Israeli communities near the Gaza border.

A close reading of the letter provides unprecedented insight into the inner workings of Hamas leadership: their belief in Israel’s eventual downfall, the internal political turmoil that led to this catastrophic decision, and their unilateral move to start a war without coordination with other members of the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”

In the letter, the Hamas leaders beg Nasrallah to join the war effort and offer a heartfelt apology for not informing him in advance. They outline how they envision Hezbollah’s involvement and how they see the broader conflict unfolding—“until the annihilation of Israel.”

Essentially serving as Hamas’s “order of the day,” the letter includes battlefield updates and directives for what the organization labeled “the day the campaign to destroy Israel begins.” Nasrallah was the intended recipient, with Izadi copied on the correspondence. The message features three Sunni jihadist leaders (Deif, Sinwar, and Issa) reporting to two senior Shiite jihadists (Nasrallah and Izadi), laying out the launch of their joint effort to obliterate what they call “the Zionist entity” — in strikingly granular detail. Alongside real-time assessments, the letter also includes an explicit apology from Hamas’s top leadership for failing to alert Nasrallah beforehand, citing “the enemy’s intelligence capabilities” as the reason for the secrecy.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, released a public apology on Saturday after its chatbot, Grok, generated disturbing and offensive content earlier in the week, including antisemitic and pro-Nazi messages, according to a report by AFP.

The inflammatory posts surfaced following a recent software modification aimed at making Grok respond in a more conversational and human-like manner. However, the update led to a wave of deeply problematic responses, including remarks glorifying Adolf Hitler and implying that people with Jewish last names were more likely to promote online hatred.

The posts were shared on the social media platform X, but were taken down several hours later after intense public backlash. In response, X suspended the account running the automated Grok feed.

“We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced,” xAI said in a statement posted to X on Saturday. The company added that it had “modified the system to prevent further abuse.”

xAI attributed the incident to a software update released on Tuesday, which instructed the chatbot to “reply to the post just like a human” and to “tell like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct.”

That prompt, the company acknowledged, inadvertently allowed Grok to mirror “extremist views” of users, resulting in it producing “responses containing unethical or controversial opinions to engage the user.”

The backlash erupted just days after Elon Musk introduced Grok 4, a new version of the AI assistant unveiled on Wednesday. xAI emphasized that the problematic content was not connected to the launch of Grok 4 but stemmed from an unrelated update pushed earlier in the week.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) swiftly condemned the incident.

“This supercharging of extremist rhetoric will only amplify and encourage the antisemitism that is already surging on X and many other platforms,” a spokesperson said. The ADL described Grok’s output as “irresponsible, dangerous and antisemitic, plain and simple.”

The ADL further reported that its research found examples of Grok endorsing violent actions in some of its Tuesday responses.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sustained minor leg injuries during an Israeli airstrike that took place in Tehran on June 16 amid the ongoing conflict, according to a report from Fars News Agency, which is closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The outlet stated that the attack happened just a few days into the war, while Pezeshkian was attending a high-level meeting in western Tehran. Also present were the speaker of the Iranian parliament and the judiciary chief. During the strike, six projectiles were reportedly launched, specifically targeting the building’s exit points.

Fars also noted that the operation bore similarities to previous Israeli attempts to assassinate Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Though the blast disrupted power to the floor where the officials were gathered, all attendees were able to evacuate safely using an emergency stairwell.

{Matzav.com}

In an interview aired last night on Fox News with Mark Levin, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu discussed Israel’s ongoing military efforts and the country’s evolving diplomatic landscape, while underscoring the deep bond between Israel and the United States under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu opened the discussion by reaffirming his admiration for President Trump’s diplomatic achievements, specifically praising his role in orchestrating the Abraham Accords. “If anyone deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s President Trump,” he stated, even going so far as to say Trump might be worthy of “maybe four Nobel Prizes for him.” He also highlighted Trump’s diplomatic influence in other global arenas, including facilitating peace between Rwanda and the Congo and reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.

Describing a dramatic change in regional attitudes, Netanyahu spoke of a growing openness among neighboring nations, mentioning the variety of communication methods being used—“back-channels, side-channels, open-channels, secret-channels”—to explore relationships with Israel. He attributed this shift to a common understanding of “peace through strength,” and a shared concern over the threat posed by Iran.

When asked about the recent military action in Iran, Netanyahu explained that the decision to strike was driven by Iran’s rapid advancement toward acquiring nuclear weapons and developing long-range missile capabilities. He likened the mission to “taking out two lumps of cancer,” arguing that Israel’s survival was at stake given its small geographic size, “the size of New Jersey.”

He elaborated that previous efforts had delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for nearly a decade through various covert means, but the current escalation demanded stronger, more direct measures.

Turning to the conflict in Gaza, Netanyahu condemned Hamas for its brutal tactics in the October 7th assault, which he described as acts of “deliberate targeting of civilians. Deliberate rape. Deliberate murder. Deliberate decapitation. And with GoPro cameras.”

He contrasted Israel’s military strategy, which he said involves extensive efforts to minimize civilian casualties—including advanced warnings and humanitarian aid—with Hamas’s alleged exploitation of its own citizens for propaganda and military advantage. “Hamas does everything in its power to have civilian casualties,” he asserted, calling their strategy a case of “double war crimes.”

On the topic of hostages, Netanyahu reported that out of 255 individuals taken, 148 have been recovered, both alive and deceased. Twenty living hostages and thirty deceased individuals remain in captivity. He expressed his determination to secure the release of every last one. “I intend to get all of them back. To do that, we’re now negotiating a deal which would give us half the hostages, living and the dead, for 60 days as far. We’re working on it. I worked on it with President Trump on this visit and I hope we get it.”

He also described how Hamas has exploited humanitarian aid to fund its terror infrastructure. “I want as many saved. And in the process, we hope that we can get an arrangement where we can bring humanitarian aid to the civilian population without having Hamas loot it. That’s what they do. They loot it, jack up the prices and use the money to recruit 14, 15 year olds to their terror army. I hope that changes. So we’re working on it, but I think we’ll end up meeting all our goals, achieving the release and safe return of our hostages, all of them, destroying Hamas,” added Netanyahu.

He emphasized that the goal is to completely eliminate Hamas from Gaza, likening the group to the Nazi SS. “They’re not going to be there any more than the Nazi SS would be left in Germany. And ensuring that Gaza doesn’t pose a threat to Israel anymore. I’m confident we’ll achieve that. That’s more or less the last stronghold of Iran in our neighborhood, except the Houthis. How come they’re not demonstrating for the Houthis? There’s no difference between the Houthis and Hamas.”

Netanyahu spoke warmly about his connection with President Trump, describing their relationship as a genuine alliance built on trust and candid dialogue. “We’ve never had a friend like him in the White House. That’s an understatement.” He praised Trump’s clarity on the Iranian threat, noting his decisiveness in opposing Iran’s nuclear goals.

He pointed out that Trump recognized Iran’s ambitions as a danger not only to Israel but to the U.S. as well, given the potential reach of Iranian long-range missiles. Netanyahu emphasized the unity of their goals: “our enemy is your enemy, and that our victory is your victory.” He expressed appreciation for the strength of American military support, including elite operations, and said it has “projected American power and resolve around the world.”

Addressing speculation about broader conflict erupting in the region, Netanyahu rejected the idea that the world is on the brink of global war, calling such fears “folly” and “nonsense.” He spoke highly of the coordination between the U.S. and Israel, pointing to the unparalleled alignment during Trump’s tenure and highlighting the lifesaving intelligence shared with America to prevent terror attacks.

He concluded by saying the regime in Iran is increasingly vulnerable, and he voiced hope for a more peaceful and prosperous future in the Middle East—one driven by technological and economic partnerships between Israel and Arab nations. “We’ve won a great victory, and that can produce terrific growth,” he affirmed.

WATCH:

Appearing on the PBD podcast, NYC Mayor Eric Adams responds to the rise of a socialist challenger in the NYC mayoral race. He breaks down how radicalization on campuses, low voter turnout, and billionaire backlash are reshaping the city. Adams defends capitalism and warns of the economic risk of far-left policies.

WATCH:

In a sharply worded op-ed published in Maariv, former Justice Minister Chaim Ramon criticized the proposed ceasefire deal with Hamas, dubbed the “Witkoff Outline,” warning that the plan is deeply flawed and offers no real resolution. He described it bluntly as “the worst of all worlds.”

Ramon argued that the current terms on the table would effectively bring Israel’s military operation to a halt in exchange for the release of just ten living hostages, while another ten would remain in Hamas captivity without any definite timeline for their return.

He addressed the reported diplomatic pressure being applied by President Donald Trump on Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to accept the deal and move toward ending the conflict. Ramon called on Netanyahu to take a firm stance and insist that the war will only conclude if Hamas agrees to release all hostages—both those alive and those who have died—within a matter of days. “I very much hope that Trump will support such a move,” he added.

Ramon suggested that if Hamas were to agree to such an offer, it would allow Israel to retrieve all the hostages and begin the process of national healing. After that, he wrote, the military would be in a position to prepare for the next phase of operations in Gaza, aimed at dismantling what he described as the “Hamastan state.”

However, if Hamas rejects the proposal, Ramon asserted, Netanyahu would then have both the ethical and political legitimacy to continue the war effort. “Even your domestic opponents will know that you were willing to go all the way to bring back all the hostages—and that Hamas is the one refusing to do so,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a neighborhood filled with classic townhouses, one eye-catching residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side stands apart — and it’s now awaiting a buyer who can appreciate its eccentric charm.

Known as the “Bubble House,” this quirky architectural gem at 251 East 71st Street has been listed for $5.75 million, marking its first time on the market in five decades, according to Curbed. The nickname comes from the property’s unique rounded windows and playful design.

The four-story structure features a white stucco front punctuated by bulging oval windows — some of which open like futuristic hatches — giving it a standout presence on its otherwise quiet Lenox Hill street.

“People walk by and they can’t help but stop and stare,” Richard Pretsfelder, the listing agent with Leslie J. Garfield, told The NY Post. “Unlike almost any house I’ve ever heard of, people would actually stop and knock on the door sometimes — which is not particularly common in New York.”

Originally constructed as a standard brownstone in the 1800s, the building was completely reimagined in 1969 by architect Maurice Medcalfe, who made it his personal home during the renovation.

The transformation took place during an era fascinated with both futuristic design and modernist forms. The unusual look, however, was not only about the space-age vibe.

“There’s also like a nautical influence, a sort of a porthole element to the whole thing,” Pretsfelder noted.

He also emphasized the importance of the era in which the renovation took place. “It is less likely to have been done in a different era.”

Inside the 4,736-square-foot home are four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a garden-level office space.

While the outside is highly unconventional, the interior layout offers more traditional comfort, with natural light and a layout that lends itself to various configurations.

A hot tub was recently taken out ahead of the sale. Though the home remains livable, Pretsfelder admitted, “it just requires work,” adding, “Someone’s going to come in and really do a full renovation down to the studs and make it their own. That may include the façades or not.”

The residence has changed hands only a few times and was most recently owned by Rabbi Arthur Schneier of Park East Synagogue, who purchased the house in 1974.

Even with its striking design, the house has never been designated a landmark, leaving future owners with considerable leeway for changes — a possibility that has sparked both interest and concern in the neighborhood.

“That is the multi-million dollar question, isn’t it?” Pretsfelder said of whether a buyer might preserve the façade. “I think they’re probably looking to maximize their dollars … But ultimately it’ll go to the highest bidder.”

Nonetheless, Pretsfelder, a native New Yorker, hopes the home’s next phase honors its distinctive history.

“Anybody who grew up in the city has seen it around for the last 50 years,” he said. “I’m sure they’d [the current owners] love to see it retained in its current format. But that remains to be seen. As with most pieces of real estate, it’ll be the dollars that do the talking.”

With its unmistakable design, the listing may attract architecture aficionados, artists, or imaginative buyers drawn to a house that defies replication.

“It’s just an iconic part of the neighborhood,” Pretsfelder said.

{Matzav.com}

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Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva and the zekan roshei hayeshivos, was taken back to the ICU in the hospital.

All are asked to continue davening for the complete refuah sheleimah of Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

The father of New York City mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani is affiliated with a radical anti-Israel group that has accused the Jewish state of “genocide” and has even shown understanding toward suicide bombers.

Mahmood Mamdani, 79, holds a position on the policy advisory council of the Gaza Tribunal, a London-based organization known for its hostility toward Israel.

According to the group, which was established in 2023, its mission is “to awaken civil society to its responsibility and opportunity to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”

The Gaza Tribunal champions a number of controversial stances shared by Zohran Mamdani, the Queens assemblyman currently leading the mayoral race. Among them is support for the BDS movement, which advocates for the boycott, divestment, and sanctioning of Israel as a tactic to promote Palestinian goals.

Fox News was the first to report on Saturday that Mahmood Mamdani, a tenured professor of African history and colonial studies at Columbia University, is officially tied to the Gaza Tribunal.

Adding to the controversy, Mamdani is facing renewed backlash online over a resurfaced passage from one of his books in which he discusses suicide bombers in terms that many have found disturbing.

“Suicide bombing needs to be understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism,” he wrote in his 2004 work, Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror.

In another section of the book, he argued, “We need to recognize the suicide bomber, first and foremost, as a category of soldier.”

On Thursday, billionaire investor Bill Ackman took to X to react to the revelations, commenting, “The apple @ZohranKMamdani doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump breaks down how the four years of a Biden White House between his first and second terms impacted Americans on ‘My View with Lara Trump.’

WATCH:

Senior members of United Torah Judaism (UTJ) have issued a sharp warning: if there is no significant progress on the long-delayed draft law, the party is preparing to immediately withdraw from the coalition — possibly as early as this week.

Amid the continued deadlock surrounding the legislation that would officially regulate the status of yeshiva students and their military exemptions, UTJ officials related, “If there is no significant progress on the draft law issue, we are preparing for an immediate withdrawal from the government this week.”

Tension has been building for weeks among chareidi lawmakers due to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s unfulfilled pledge that a finalized draft of the law would be submitted by early this week. The legislation was expected to be presented to former minister Ariel Attias, who would then bring it to the heads of the chareidi parties for review and approval by the Gedolei Yisroel, with the goal of beginning formal discussions in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

However, that process has been stalled. Committee chairman Yoel “Yuli” Edelstein delayed the submission, and another week has passed without a bill being filed. This delay means the legislation will almost certainly not pass during the current summer session, pushing it off until after the Knesset recess.

Compounding the crisis, the IDF announced this past Wednesday — via the military’s legal advisor — that in roughly two weeks, Military Police will launch a sweeping enforcement campaign. This will include arrests nationwide to enforce tens of thousands of draft notices recently sent to chareidi young men.

Chareidi party officials emphasized once again that if even a single yeshiva student is arrested, they will walk out of the coalition without hesitation.

Deep anger is also being directed toward Edelstein. A senior coalition source told Kikar: “Edelstein is acting purely out of revenge and hatred for Bibi. Let’s not forget — on October 7, he made a serious attempt to topple Bibi via a no-confidence vote and tried to rally the chareidi parties to support him. When they refused, he now seeks revenge.”

Frustration is also mounting toward Netanyahu himself. One senior UTJ figure remarked, “The draft issue doesn’t really interest him. He drags his feet and doesn’t keep his word. We followed his lead, and now we’re left without a law.”

Meanwhile, the legal advisory team is continuing to oversee the IDF’s enforcement plans. An additional oversight hearing has been scheduled, in which military representatives will be required to provide updates on the implementation of the campaign — including actions at border crossings, new detention policies, and the extent of enforcement activity.

A parallel discussion is being coordinated between the Justice Ministry and Defense Ministry to address outstanding gaps in the data transfer process between the Education Ministry and the IDF regarding eligible conscripts. Solutions to those gaps are expected to be presented at the next oversight session.

As part of the state’s legal response, all relevant authorities have been instructed to provide detailed enforcement plans, including the principles guiding the treatment of draft evaders at border crossings, the nature and frequency of enforcement operations, and the current capacity of military detention facilities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Yittel Rochel Koth a”h of Monsey. She was 75.

Together with her husband, Reb Avrum Koth, Mrs. Koth was well-known as the heart behind the beloved A&B Fish store, a staple in the Monsey area for many years. But beyond her role in the store, she was cherished for her quiet strength, unwavering devotion, and the warmth she extended to all who knew her.

Her presence in the community was one of dignity and resilience, a woman whose life was defined by chesed and deep-rooted bitachon.

The levayah is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

She will be laid to rest in the Belzer section of the Har Shalom Cemetery in Airmont.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Gedaliah Schulman zt”l, one of the senior roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Bais Shemaya in Bnei Brak, who was marbitz Torah for decades. Rav Schulman was niftar on Shabbos at the age of 79. His levayah was held earlier tonight from his home in Bnei Brak.

Rav Schulman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on Shabbos following a recent period of illness. He was rushed to Maayanei HaYeshua Hospital, where he was niftar despite resuscitation efforts.

Born on the 27th of Kislev in 1945, Rav Gedaliah was the son of Rav Mordechai Schulman zt”l and Rebbetzin Bas Sheva a”h. As a bochur, he learned in Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, where he developed into a true ben Torah under the guidance of its roshei yeshiva.

He later married Rebbetzin Rivka, a renowned educator and the youngest daughter of Rav Yoel Kloft, Av Beis Din of Haifa and author of Daas Yoel. Rebbetzin Rivkah Schulman, a beloved mechaneches at the Hildesheimer Seminary in Petach Tikvah, dedicated her life to inspiring and guiding the daughters of Klal Yisroel. She was niftar in Iyar 5782.

For many years, Rav Schulman taught in Yeshivas Bais Shemaya, molding generations of talmidim with humility and depth. Known for his simplicity and tznius, he was revered as a tremendous talmid chochom who shied away from recognition.

He authored a series of concise notes and marei mekomos on various masechtos, based on his shiurim in Bais Shemaya. These writings gained wide popularity and became valuable resources among bnei Torah.

Rav Schulman is survived by an illustrious family who follow in his path: his only son, Rav Shmuel Yosef Schulman, and his daughters, the wives of Rav Elchanan Blum, Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Rubinsky, Rav Raphael Kokis, Rav Yehuda Groner, and Rav Menachem Friedman.

His brothers-in-law include Rav Shmuel Kloft, Rav Shneur Kloft, who succeeded his father as rosh kollel of Daas Yoel and Av Beis Din of Eidah Yisroel in Haifa for over fifty years, Rav Chaim Kloft, rosh yeshiva of Kehillos Yaakov in Kiryat Sefer, Rav Shmuel Avigdor Faivelson, rosh yeshiva of Nachalas Naftali in Tzfas, and Rav Menachem Tzvi Berlin, rosh yeshiva of Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer in Bnei Brak.

The levayah was held on Motzoei Shabbos from his home at 10 Rechov Rav Ami in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the beis hachaim in Kfar Samir, Haifa.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Speaking at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv tonight, Eli Sharabi — who endured captivity under Hamas — made a heartfelt appeal to President Donald Trump, urging him to act swiftly to secure the return of the remaining hostages. “The window of opportunity to bring home all 50 hostages – living and dead – is open NOW and it won’t be for long,” Sharabi declared.

He thanked Trump for his prior efforts and pleaded for continued action, saying, “President Trump, being in those tunnels is h—. Thank you for bringing me – and so many others – back home. We need your help now to bring back my brother Yossi, and 49 other hostages. Your vision for a new Middle East is possible only when ALL hostages are back home.”

Sharabi reflected on the tragedy that befell his own family during the October 7 massacre, speaking with deep sorrow about the loss of his wife and daughters. “Lianne, may her memory be a blessing, my dear wife. A British citizen who fell in love with me. She fell in love with this land. Her only desire was to raise our daughters in peace, quietly. Noya and Yahel, may their memories be a blessing, my beloved daughters. Children whose smile, sensitivity, and willingness to help others were their way of life. A whole family that was murdered. Erased. A whole life cut short. A home that was shattered in an instant.”

Turning his attention to those still missing, Sharabi made clear that his plea was on behalf of the living as much as the dead. “I stand here not only for those who are no longer with us. I am also here for those still waiting,” he said. “For those who can and should be saved! Yossi, may his memory be a blessing, my dear brother, who walked with me in the same path within the Be’eri community. A brother with a pure heart. His wife Nira, his daughters Yuval, Ophir, and Oren, his mother, his siblings — everyone is waiting for his return for a proper burial. Every day since the moment of his abduction, the pain, mourning, and loss only deepen.”

He also spoke of his close friend, Alon Ohel, who remains in Hamas custody. “Alon, my dear friend, beloved, handsome, an artist with a noble and delicate soul, is waiting there in the darkness of the tunnel. I promised you I wouldn’t rest until you are freed and returned to your family’s embrace.”

Sharabi described the trauma that began on October 7 and has yet to lift. “Since October 7, our lives have ceased to be life,” he said. “Hundreds of families have lost their dearest loved ones. Others are still living in an awful and agonizing wait. To those who claim there are ‘fifty hostages’ still not returned, I would suggest rephrasing, to be accurate — fifty hostage families remain in Gaza. The families are asking themselves every moment: Will our loved ones survive this hell? Are they in life-threatening danger at this very moment? Are they hungry? Humiliated? Beaten? Could they disappear forever in the soil of Gaza? Do you understand the depth of this fracture?”

Sharabi stressed that the issue transcends politics and cuts to the core of the nation’s values. “To be a moral, responsible, and just state means not abandoning anyone,” he declared. “Not civilians. Not soldiers. No matter where they are held. No matter the price. Because the moment our hearts stop beating for them, we cease to be a state. This is not a political issue. It’s not a question of right or left. It’s a question of morality. A question of humanity. A question of heart!”

With raw emotion, Sharabi spoke of the personal burden he carries every day. “I live with the grief,” he said. “I carry it with me everywhere — alongside life — not in its place!”

He closed his remarks by addressing the other families still awaiting answers. “And to you, the families of the hostages, families who have no moment of peace,” he said, “You are the pillar of fire leading the camp. My brothers and sisters in pain and hope — I see you, I feel you, I stand beside you. Your strength, your faith, your tears — they are the testimony for us of what truly matters.”

{Matzav.com}

At a Turning Points USA event on Friday, political commentator Tucker Carlson floated the theory that Jeffrey Epstein may have been linked to Israeli intelligence. “It’s extremely obvious to anyone who watches that this guy had direct connections to a foreign government. Now, no one’s allowed to say that foreign government is Israel, because we’ve been somehow cowed into thinking that that’s naughty,” he told the audience, which responded with loud applause.

Carlson was quick to clarify that his statement wasn’t meant as a slur against Israel, emphasizing that he could criticize his own country’s intelligence agency without being unpatriotic. He drew a comparison to the CIA, suggesting one can condemn its actions and still be loyal to America. “As long as we’re sending you money,” he said about Israel, “if you were committing crimes on our soil, we have the absolute right to know.”

In another clip from the same conference, Carlson argued that Americans who enlist in foreign militaries — including the Israel Defense Forces and the Ukrainian army — should no longer be considered U.S. citizens. Responding to a question that had been asked before the start of the recorded segment, which he suggested was about Israel, Carlson said, “I quote the New Testament, but I also refer to common sense when I say that no man can serve two masters, it’s not possible. I only have one wife for that reason.”

He continued, “You can only really pledge your loyalty to one person or one country, that’s just a fact.” Carlson insisted that those who join the military of a foreign nation must forfeit their American citizenship. “There are a lot of Americans who’ve served in the IDF and they should lose their citizenship. There are a lot of Americans who serve in Ukraine, and they should lose their citizenship,” he said. “You can’t fight for another country and remain an American — period. Obviously!”

Carlson went on to say that Americans have been manipulated into viewing such positions as hateful. “You don’t hear hate in my voice, because there isn’t any,” he said.

Carlson has previously taken aim at Rep. Brian Mast of Florida for wearing his IDF uniform in the halls of Congress as a gesture of support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Mast, a decorated U.S. Army veteran who lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan, volunteered for a brief stint with the IDF in January 2025, assisting with the assembly of medical supplies at a military base near Tel Aviv.

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{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu appeared on Fox News in a pre-recorded segment of Life, Liberty & Levin, hosted by Mark Levin. During the wide-ranging discussion, Netanyahu spoke about the conflict with Iran and the broader threats facing Israel.

Touching on Iran’s actions in the wake of Hezbollah’s downfall, Netanyahu stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps made a rapid push toward nuclear capability. “We saw it. We said, within a year they will have a nuclear bomb, and they will use it,” he warned. “Unlike other nuclear powers, they will actually use it, and they will wipe us out.”

When Levin turned to the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, he asked Netanyahu for an update on efforts to rescue those still held by Hamas.

“We are doing everything we can not to cause them harm,” Netanyahu replied, underscoring the delicate balance Israel is trying to maintain in its military operations.

Netanyahu contrasted Israel’s approach to warfare with that of its enemies. “Israel does everything in it’s power to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas does everything in it’s power to do the opposite,” he said.

The conversation then shifted to a more personal note. Levin asked the Prime Minister if he could meet anyone from history, who would it be?

Netanyahu didn’t hesitate: “Theodor Herzl.”

Levin followed up by asking whether there was a historical figure Netanyahu kept in mind when making important decisions. Again, Netanyahu named the father of modern Zionism.

“Theodor Herzl,” he said once more.

Netanyahu elaborated on why Herzl continues to inspire him. “[He was] 36 years old when he said that the Jewish people would be annihilated by the forces of antisemitism in Europe,” Netanyahu explained. “The only solution would be to resuscitate a Jewish state in our ancestral homeland, which we never gave up on.”

Reflecting on Herzl’s brief but impactful life, Netanyahu added, “He died at 44 and in eight years he launched this incredible…he lit a fire in the Jewish people. 50 years later, there was a Jewish state.”

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{Matzav.com}