Matzav

President Donald Trump said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday that Israeli troops could return to combat in Gaza if Hamas does not abide by the current truce, declaring that Israel could restart military operations “as soon as I say the word.”

“What’s going on with Hamas – that’ll be straightened out quickly,” President Trump remarked in a short phone conversation with the network.

According to Trump, Hamas has been violating a central clause of the ceasefire, which mandates the release of all hostages—both living and deceased. While all 20 surviving captives have been freed, only eight bodies have been delivered, and one of those was found not to belong to a hostage.

Trump’s 20-point peace proposal explicitly states in Point 4, “Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.”

“Getting those 20 hostages out was paramount,” the president told CNN, underscoring the importance of securing their release.

Trump also weighed in on reports of unrest within Gaza following the deal, suggesting Hamas may be cracking down on competing groups. “Right now, Hamas is going in and clearing out the gangs, violent gangs,” he said. When asked whether civilians might be caught in the violence, Trump replied, “I’m doing research on it. We’ll find out about it. It could be gangs plus.”

Pressed on what would occur if Hamas refuses to lay down its arms, Trump responded, “I think about it. Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that.”

“I had to hold them back,” he continued, alluding to his conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s administration. “I had it out with Bibi.”

Despite the difficulties, Trump expressed confidence that the truce and ongoing peace process enjoy broad global backing. He said that 59 nations have endorsed the agreement, calling it historic: “We’ve never seen anything like this. Now it’s all happening.”

He concluded by highlighting the momentum of regional cooperation under the Abraham Accords, noting, “They want to be part of the Abraham Accords. Now that Iran isn’t a problem.”

The military arm of the Hamas terror group issued a statement asserting that it no longer has the bodies of any deceased hostages in its possession.

“We met our end of the agreement, we released all the living hostages, and what we have as far as deceased hostages. Regarding the rest, we will need great efforts and special tools to find them,” the group declared.

Meanwhile, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that, based on intelligence gathered, the Red Cross is en route to a location in northern Gaza to receive several coffins containing the remains of hostages. They later reported that two coffins holding deceased hostages were successfully handed over and are now being transported to IDF and ISA teams stationed in the Gaza Strip.

President Donald Trump stated in an interview with CNN that the IDF would be authorized to resume military operations in Gaza “as soon as I say the word” should Hamas fail to uphold the terms of the ceasefire.

{Matzav.com}

Yael Adar, the mother of slain hostage Tamir Adar, delivered an impassioned rebuke of Israel’s leadership during an interview on Channel 12, accusing the government of abandoning the families of those murdered in captivity.

Adar revealed that before the recently announced hostage agreement, she questioned officials about what means Israel would have to ensure the return of the victims’ remains from Hamas.

“They told me that a live hostage is worth 100 Palestinian prisoners, including life-termers,” she says. “But a dead hostage is worth 15 Palestinian bodies. Why not 100 dead Palestinians?”

She maintained that Hamas had not actually violated the terms of the accord, explaining that “Israel agreed there was no deadline.”

Adar also condemned Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana for taking off his hostage pin, saying that the gesture reflected a mindset that “it’s over.”

Her comments came amid growing scrutiny over whether Hamas is fulfilling its obligations under the “Comprehensive End of Gaza War” agreement, signed Thursday in Egypt. That document required Hamas to hand over the remains of all hostages it holds—or can locate—within 72 hours of the ceasefire, meaning by noon today.

However, the same agreement includes a clause allowing for cases in which Hamas possesses information about the location of deceased captives but is unable to recover the bodies within the set timeframe. In such instances, those details are to be passed along to mediators for later follow-up.

A CNN report published last week cited three Israeli officials who confirmed that Hamas may be unable to recover every body. The officials said Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has been aware of this reality for several months. One source estimated that seven to nine bodies might not be found, while another put the number between 10 and 15.

According to Channel 12, Qatari representatives in Sharm el-Sheikh have told Israeli negotiators that Hamas currently holds between 15 and 16 hostages.

{Matzav.com}

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a late-night meeting with senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Khaya and other top members of the group at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday evening to finalize the agreement on the release of hostages and the ceasefire, according to a report released Monday.

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, writing for Channel 12 and the US-based Axios, revealed that Qatari negotiators encouraged the American delegation to meet directly with the Hamas officials in order to overcome a deadlock in the ongoing discussions.

Ravid reported on Axios that, according to one insider, Hamas leaders were worried that once the hostages were released, Israel would resume its military campaign. They demanded clear guarantees that, so long as Hamas adhered to the terms, Trump would prevent Israel from restarting the war.

According to the report, Trump “had privately granted permission for Witkoff and Kushner to meet Hamas leaders if necessary to seal a deal” during an Oval Office conversation with his envoys before they left for Egypt.

Once in Sharm el-Sheikh, Witkoff informed the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish intermediaries that Trump had approved the meeting. The session took place when negotiations hit an impasse around 11 p.m.

“In the hotel room were the Egyptian and Turkish intelligence chiefs, senior Qatari officials, and the four most senior Hamas leaders involved in the negotiations,” Ravid wrote.

“The Hamas team was led by Khalil al-Hayya, who had survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha three weeks earlier,” he continued. Al-Hayya was the main target of Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Hamas offices in the Qatari capital, though the attempt failed to eliminate him or any other senior operatives.

During the 45-minute conversation, Witkoff reportedly told the Hamas delegation that holding onto the hostages was now “more of a liability than an asset for you,” and urged them to move forward with the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan to “bring people home on both sides of the border.”

“President Trump’s message is that you will be treated fairly and that he stands behind all 20 points of his peace plan, and will make sure they are all implemented,” Witkoff said, according to the report.

Afterward, the Hamas delegation met privately with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish officials. Egypt’s intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, then returned to the Americans and told them, “Based on the meeting we just had, we have a deal.”

Moments later, Trump publicly announced that the first phase of the agreement had been finalized.

This marked the second instance in which US officials had direct contact with Hamas representatives during the Gaza war. Earlier in the year, hostage envoy Adam Boehler had also met with Hamas leaders, a move that angered Israel and ultimately led to his dismissal from the post.

Boehler’s earlier meetings, which centered on efforts to secure the release of dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander and the bodies of four slain dual nationals held in Gaza, had been fully coordinated with Witkoff, though Israeli officials had not been briefed in advance.

Following backlash, Boehler attempted to reassure Israeli leaders in a series of interviews, but his remarks about empathizing with “the human elements” within Hamas only deepened Israeli frustration and further strained relations.

At the Egypt summit on Gaza, President Donald Trump declared that world leaders had gathered not only to mark the end of the Gaza conflict but to usher in what he called the dawn of a “beautiful Middle East.”

“From this moment forward, we can build a region that’s strong, stable, prosperous and united in rejecting the path of terror once and for all,” Trump says.

He recounted that the “final sprint” toward the agreement ending the Gaza war began during the UN General Assembly late last month, when he met with the heads of eight Arab and Muslim nations — several of whom, he admitted, “I don’t like in particular.”

“We listened and we exchanged ideas, and we kept pushing forward until the job was done,” Trump says. “The first steps to peace are always the hardest, and today, we’ve taken them together.

“I’ve just come from Israel, it was an amazing day to watch the hostages come in,” he continues. “The Israeli people are overjoyed that the war has ended. Many of you have had dancing in the streets.”

Turning his attention to the future of regional cooperation, Trump encouraged additional countries to embrace the peace framework. “I hope everybody is going to join the Abraham Accords… Now, a lot of people, even today, are talking about all joining up. So many people have talked to me about that, and it’s going to be a great tribute to the United States,” Trump says.

He pointed out that those already participating are “wealthy,” seemingly referencing the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco — nations that normalized ties with Israel under the Accords.

“I hope everybody is now joining up. Now we have no excuses. We don’t have a Gaza and we don’t have an Iran as an excuse,” Trump says, alluding to the recent American strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which he claimed “completely obliterated” the program.

“All the momentum now is toward a great, glorious and lasting peace,” Trump continues. “Our commitment to fulfilling the 20-point plan we developed together will be the crucial foundation for achieving that bright future” — a reference to his initiative outlining steps toward a potential Palestinian state.

{Matzav.com}

During Chol Hamoed Sukkos, crowds packed the central beis medrash of the Belz community in Ashdod to hear a special hashkafic address from the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Avnei Nezer, Rav Zamir Cohen. The event drew hundreds of bnei Torah eager to hear the renowned scholar’s deep insights into the meaning of Sukkos.

Rav Cohen, who enjoys a close relationship and high esteem within Belz and frequently visits the Belzer Rebbe and delivers shiurim to Belzer avreichim, was accorded a remarkable display of honor and reverence.

The vast beis medrash, which seats roughly a thousand, was filled to capacity as avreichim streamed in to hear a penetrating hashkafic discussion on the essence of Sukkos. Rav Cohen explained that the Yom Tov is “the key to true joy in life,” teaching that this world is transient and that genuine happiness comes through spiritual growth rather than physical indulgence.

“Mi she’toleh tikvos b’gashmiyus – mis’achezev. Aval mi she’ro’eh es ha’olam hazeh k’prozdor – zoiche l’simchas chayim,” declared the rosh yeshiva. “One who places his hopes in material things will be disappointed, but one who sees this world as a corridor to the next attains true joy.”

He added, “Toras Hashem sustains creation at every moment, like a light that gives life to all. A talmid chacham carries within him that Divine light, and when one honors him, one is honoring the Shechinah itself.”

Rav Cohen concluded his remarks by extolling the immeasurable merit and contribution of bnei hayeshivos who devote themselves to Torah study, emphasizing that their learning upholds the very fabric of creation and protects the entire Klal Yisroel.

Rama Duwaji, the wife of Democratic Party New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, drew sharp criticism over the weekend after publicly mourning the death of Saleh al-Jafarawi, a prominent Gaza-based influencer widely known by his online moniker “Mr. FAFO.” Jafarawi gained notoriety during the Israel-Hamas war for his pro-Hamas videos and open praise of the October 7th terrorist massacre in southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were slaughtered by armed Palestinian terrorists.

On Instagram, Duwaji shared a post announcing Jafarawi’s death, adding four broken heart emojis. She later reposted a video of Jafarawi celebrating the recent ceasefire, referring to him affectionately as “our Beloved Jafarawi.”

According to Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV, Jafarawi was killed in Gaza City while accompanying Hamas fighters in an assault on an anti-Hamas faction. The Jerusalem Post reported that Jafarawi had “gained global attention for his viral videos from Gaza, frequently appearing in clips even after being falsely reported dead. On several occasions, he filmed himself from hospital beds after reportedly surviving attacks.”

Atlantic Council fellow Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib offered context on Jafarawi’s death, writing, “Controversial Gaza activist, derogatorily called ‘Mr. FAFO’ due to his performative antics and well known for his support of Hamas and raising an estimated $10 million to build a children’s hospital, only to pocket the money, Saleh Al-Jafarawi, was killed today by unknown assailants. He was allegedly accompanying Hamas’s ‘Saham’ unit during clashes with the Doghmosh clan in Gaza City, possibly as a cameraman of sorts. Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels have been announcing his death, possibly as a way to incite further violence against the clan and justify even more killing of perceived opposition and alleged criminal elements.”

Duwaji’s tribute to Jafarawi quickly triggered backlash online, with many condemning her for expressing sympathy toward a Hamas propagandist.

Journalist Haviv Rettig Gur of The Free Press commented on the controversy, writing, “A lot of clarity suddenly as the war comes to an end. Mamdani’s wife is heartbroken at the death of a Hamas propagandist who died while participating in a massive Hamas massacre of Palestinians underway this very minute in Gaza.”

{Matzav.com}

During his address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, President Donald Trump paused his speech to share a lighthearted moment about his new favorite way to say “Abraham,” as in the Abraham Accords — pronounced the way Israelis do: “Av-Ra-Hom.” Trump said he’s adopted the Hebrew-style pronunciation because it sounds “so cool.”

“I like calling it the Av-Ra-HOM accords,” Trump said, drawing laughter and applause from the audience. “Right? Av-Ra-HOM! It’s so cool.” After the cheers subsided, he added, “It’s so much, sort of, nicer, you know.”

He continued by contrasting his preferred version with the standard English one: “The Abraham Accords versus the Av-Ra-Hom.” The crowd enjoyed the moment, and Trump grinned as he played with the words.

This wasn’t the first time Trump had toyed with the pronunciation. When Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu visited the White House last month, Trump had called it the “Abra-HOM Accords,” explaining that he wanted to say it the way “the real people” say it.

The humorous exchange came shortly after Trump’s arrival in Israel to mark the release of 20 hostages held by Hamas. In a separate interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump suggested that the timing of the release was linked to U.S. military action against Iran earlier this year.

“I think it really started when we took out the nuclear capability of Iran,” Trump told reporter Trey Yingst. “When you look at what they had, you couldn’t have made this deal if somebody is sitting over there with a nuclear weapon over your head.”

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and one of the architects of the Abraham Accords five years ago, reportedly played a central role in mediating the new Israel-Hamas deal. The original Accords, brokered during Trump’s first term, normalized diplomatic relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

Speaking at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Kushner said he was holding off on celebrating until the hostages were safely home. “I could not be more proud to see the way that the State of Israel and its people have carried themselves through this traumatic, unthinkable, horrific experience,” Kushner said. “Instead of replicating the barbarism of the enemy, you chose to be exceptional. You chose to stand for the values that you stand for, and I could not be more proud to be a friend of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

NewsNation host Batya Ungar-Sargon sat down with conservative strategist and MAGA figure Steve Bannon over the weekend on her new show, BATYA!, for a wide-ranging discussion that touched on issues from New York politician Zohran Mamdani to Middle East diplomacy — and, most notably, whether President Donald Trump might find a way to seek a third term in office.

At one point in the interview, Ungar-Sargon directly pressed Bannon on the constitutional restriction preventing Trump from running again. “So let me ask you about Trump 2028. We have a 22nd Amendment, which bars anybody from running for a third term. Do you think that that’s not a barrier for him, or how do you see that?” she asked.

Bannon replied without hesitation, “I think that there are many different alternatives that, at the appropriate time, after the midterms in ’26, we will roll out,” adding, “But I think there are different alternatives to make sure that President Trump is on the ballot, and if he’s on the ballot, he’ll win.”

His comments echoed similar remarks he made earlier this year during an interview with Chris Cuomo. At that time, Cuomo reminded him, “You’re a smart guy. You know he’s term-limited. How do you think he gets another term?”

Bannon responded, “We’re working on it. I think we’ll have a couple of alternatives, let’s say that. We’ll see what the definition of term limit is.”

Cuomo sought to clarify the intent behind Bannon’s statements, asking, “So you’re talking about litigating this issue, because I don’t want people to listen to our interview and say, ‘Bannon’s cooking up an insurrection.’ You know what I mean? I want people to get a straight take on where your head is.”

“Chris, as you know, I’ve had greater long shots than this,” Bannon replied confidently, referring to his earlier predictions about Trump’s political resilience. “We’ve had greater long shots than Trump 2028, and we’ve got a lot of stuff we’re working on there. We’re not prepared to talk about it publicly, but in a couple months, I think we will be.”

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{Matzav.com}

After Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to take part in the peace summit in Egypt, several Arab heads of state reportedly threatened to pull out if the Israeli leader attended. Among them, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a particularly blunt warning to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, saying he would order his plane to return to Ankara if Netanyahu showed up.

The ultimatum appeared to have its intended effect. Despite Trump’s personal encouragement to attend, Netanyahu decided to withdraw from the summit at the last minute.

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency, Erdogan’s plane remained in a holding pattern in the air until Netanyahu’s withdrawal was confirmed. The outlet noted, “President Erdogan’s plane crossed the approach path to Sharm el-Sheikh and remained for a time over the Red Sea,” a sign that the Turkish leader had been awaiting the final word before landing.

Yisroel Hayom reported that Ankara also relayed its frustration to Washington, expressing anger that the invitation to Netanyahu had not been coordinated with them in advance. Following a series of consultations between U.S. officials and Netanyahu’s aides, the Israeli delegation decided to cancel the visit. Netanyahu’s office then sought a public explanation for the decision, eventually citing “the start of the holiday” as the reason for his absence. However, according to the report, there had been no actual discussion with the ultra-Orthodox or right-wing coalition factions regarding such a scheduling conflict.

A diplomatic official familiar with the matter told Yisroel Hayom that some regional leaders are still hesitant about fully embracing President Donald Trump’s sweeping Middle East peace vision. “Several countries are still not ready for President Donald Trump’s groundbreaking regional initiatives and more time and progress in other areas are needed to arrange a broad meeting of regional leaders with Israel,” the source explained.

The same official added that a conference of this scale would require considerable diplomatic groundwork and pre-agreed understandings between participating nations. “The president’s diplomatic spontaneity did not go down smoothly with several regional leaders,” the source said, describing the resistance that emerged behind the scenes.

Reports indicate that Trump intends to return to the region in the coming months for a longer, more formal visit, during which he plans to unveil what he has called his “mega deal” — a far-reaching political, strategic, and economic framework for the Middle East. The initiative is expected to build on the Abraham Accords, expanding them into new partnerships involving energy, trade, and regional development.

{Matzav.com}

Just hours after freeing the remaining living hostages it had held since October 7, 2023, the Hamas terror organization on Monday night executed several people in Gaza it accused of spying for Israel or being connected to ongoing power struggles between Hamas and local clans or armed groups.

According to a report by Ynet, the executions were carried out publicly before a large crowd that cheered and filmed the killings on their phones.

Palestinian Arab sources said the victims were targeted in what Hamas called a purge of individuals suspected of “treason” or of maintaining ties with foreign intelligence agencies.

The executions followed earlier incidents in recent weeks in which Hamas-affiliated social media accounts circulated disturbing videos of three Gazans being executed in Gaza City. Hamas claimed the men were collaborators with Israel.

In those videos, the condemned were shown blindfolded and bound as armed Hamas gunmen surrounded them. The footage depicted a large crowd of onlookers, including children, watching as the executions were carried out.

Despite Palestinian Authority law requiring that all executions be approved by PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas — who has imposed a moratorium on capital punishment — Hamas continues to carry out such killings unilaterally in Gaza, ignoring the requirement for presidential consent.

The terror group, which rejects Abbas’s authority, has repeatedly stated that it has the right to impose and implement death sentences without his approval.

Most of Hamas’s executions over the years have targeted those accused of being “Israeli spies.” In September 2022, the group executed two Gazans it claimed had provided intelligence to Israel leading to the deaths of two individuals.

In July, Hamas’s so-called internal security “deterrence” unit announced that it had conducted a series of “high-quality” operations in which twelve people were executed for alleged collaboration with Israel or participation in criminal activities.

Two months earlier, in May, Hamas also executed four men it accused of stealing humanitarian aid shipments entering Gaza — another example of the group’s violent and arbitrary enforcement of power inside the Strip.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Government Accountability Institute president Peter Schweizer warns of the family connections of New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on ‘Life, Liberty & Levin.’

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met President Donald Trump at the Gaza summit in Egypt on Monday, with the pair meeting for the first time in eight years, AFP reported.

Trump and Abbas spoke for several seconds before the US leader held his hand and then gave a thumbs-up to the cameras at the summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron escorted Abbas to the podium to meet Trump.

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{Matzav.com}

Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey officially signed a ceasefire document with U.S. President Donald Trump this evening, solidifying the framework for peace and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Before the signing ceremony, Trump described the agreement as “very comprehensive,” explaining that it “would outline the rules and regulations for the future of the Gaza Strip.”

Earlier in the day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi convened a high-level meeting with the presidents of France and Turkey, along with Qatar’s emir and other international figures, to coordinate efforts for enforcing the ceasefire and rebuilding Gaza, according to a statement released by Egypt’s presidential office.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, which served as the final stage in securing the long-sought accord to bring an end to the fighting in Gaza.

Appearing jointly before the summit, Trump commended Sisi for his leadership role in advancing the peace initiative. “He played a very important role. I appreciate it very much,” Trump said, describing the Egyptian president as “a powerful leader who keeps crime down in his country.”

Sisi, for his part, reiterated his long-standing position that “a two-state solution was the only way to achieve the ambitions of the Palestinians and the Israelis and live in peace.”

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu informed Trump that he would not be attending the summit, citing scheduling challenges. “The timing being close to the start of the holiday,” the Prime Minister’s Office explained in a statement.

The announcement from Israel contradicted an earlier report from the Egyptian presidency, which had initially indicated that the Israeli leader was expected to participate in the gathering.

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This evening, the IDF and the Shin Bet announced that the Red Cross had received two additional coffins containing the remains of Israeli hostages and that they were being transferred to IDF and Shin Bet personnel stationed inside the Gaza Strip. The two coffins were set to join two others that had been handed over earlier in the day.

“Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages,” the official statement declared, emphasizing Israel’s demand that the terror group fulfill all of its obligations under the ceasefire deal.

A previous statement released earlier Monday confirmed that the first two coffins containing the remains of hostages had already been delivered to Red Cross representatives and were en route to Israeli authorities inside Gaza.

Shortly after, the Hamas organization publicly released the names of the four deceased hostages whose bodies were being returned: Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez.

The Hostages forum said it was “shocked and dismayed” to learn of Hamas’s breach.

“We expect Israel’s government and the mediators to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice,” it said. “The families of the deceased hostages are enduring especially difficult days filled with deep sorrow. We will not abandon any hostage. The mediators must enforce the agreement’s terms and ensure Hamas pays a price for this violation.”

According to the first stage of the ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to release all remaining 48 hostages, alive and deceased, on Monday.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump voiced optimism on Monday that the remains of most of the deceased hostages still held in Gaza would soon be recovered and brought back to Israel.

Speaking to reporters in Sharm el-Sheikh after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Trump was asked about the next steps now that all surviving hostages had been freed. “They’re going and looking for bodies… and they’re doing it in conjunction with Israel – and they’re going to be finding quite a few of them,” he said.

Addressing ongoing diplomatic efforts for the next stage of the Gaza Peace Deal, the president noted, “It started, as far as we’re concerned… In the other room, you have some of the wealthiest nations in the world… I think you’ll see some tremendous progress.”

Trump also emphasized Egypt’s crucial part in achieving the ceasefire and securing the release of hostages. “They had a very important role with Hamas… Hamas respects this country, and they respect the leadership of Egypt,” he stated.

The president’s remarks came during his stop in Egypt following a landmark visit to Israel earlier in the day, where he addressed the Knesset and met privately with the families of the hostages.

Evyatar David has finally been released by Hamas after video showed him being forced to dig his own grave. All living hostages in Gaza were released by Hamas Monday, with all 20 reportedly walking to Red Cross trucks under their own power following a historic cease-fire deal introduced by President Trump. The first seven hostages returned to Israel around 2:30 a.m. ET Monday after being transported out of the Palestinian territory by Red Cross trucks. The remaining 13 hostages were released by Hamas hours later.

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Nearly 2,000 Palestinian terrorists freed by Israel arrived in Gaza and the West Bank, greeted by massive cheering crowds.

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Aharon Mizrachi, a 76-year-old resident of Ramat Gan, passed away Monday night from injuries he sustained nearly four months ago when an Iranian missile struck during Operation Rising Lion.

His levayah will be held on Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. in Holon. Aharon had been with his partner, Etti Cohen Angel, when the missile hit. While Etti was killed instantly, Aharon was critically injured and had remained hospitalized in grave condition until his passing.

The Mizrachi family shared a heartfelt message following his death: “Our father and grandfather was a joyful, kind-hearted man, full of humor, who always loved helping others with an open heart and great soul. His devotion to his children and grandchildren knew no bounds. After a long struggle, we are heartbroken and deeply saddened by his passing, feeling a great loss in our hearts.”

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen expressed sorrow over the loss, saying, “On such an emotional day, we are unfortunately also receiving difficult news about another of our city’s residents who lost his life in this bloody war, from the impact of the first Iranian missile.”

He recounted that “Aharon fought for his life for four months after an Iranian missile struck directly on Tirtza Street during the first missile attack of Operation Rising Lion, instantly killing his partner, Eti Cohen Angel. Eti and Aharon were hit while sitting together. On behalf of all the city’s residents, I wish to extend my condolences to Aharon’s family. We are already reaching out to offer assistance and will continue to embrace and support them.”

Mizrachi’s passing brings renewed grief to Ramat Gan, a city that has already endured painful losses in the recent wave of Iranian aggression.

Boruch Hashem matir assurim. Thank you to the One who releases captives!

It has been 738 days since the terrorist massacre carried out by Hamas on the holiday of Shmini Atzeres / Simchas Torah. Ever since that day, the families of the hostages along with Jews and others worldwide have prayed and pleaded for the release of every last captive.

Agudath Israel of America rejoices in the return of the hostages released today from the underground dungeons of Gaza as part of the deal orchestrated by President Trump. The torture and trauma to which they were subjected for two horrifying years are beyond description. We celebrate their release, just as we pray that Hashem send them healing, a complete and speedy recovery from the physical and emotional ills they suffered throughout their ordeal.

We express our deep appreciation to President Donald Trump for his leadership and for committing to see this plan through until the end by chairing the “Board of Peace” that will oversee the next stages.

Jews the world over are in the midst of celebrating Sukkos, which is known as “Zman Simchaseinu,” the season of our rejoicing. The return of the hostages at the culmination of the holiday, on the eve of Shmini Atzeres / Simchas Torah adds to our collective joy.

While public mourning is not permitted on the holiday, we all recognize that our joy is tempered by the knowledge that so many of the hostages’ families are preparing to bury their loved ones. Our hearts are with them during this difficult time.

While there are several aspects of the deal that will be challenging, we pray to the Almighty, the maker of peace in heaven and earth, that this effort will lead to true peace between Israel and all of its neighbors in the region.

{Matzav.com}