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מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי מראות מהילולת קרעסטיר תשפ”הצילום: מאיר אדרי

A ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck near Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning, lightly to moderately wounding six people and disrupting takeoffs and arrivals.

The attack triggered air-raid sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Yerushalayim and the Shfela/Judaean Foothills. Several attempts were made to intercept the missile, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The U.S.-made THAAD system attempted to intercept the missile but failed, as did Israel’s Arrow system, Channel 14 military correspondent Hillel Bitton Rosen reported. Authorities are investigating whether the blast near Terminal 3 was caused by a direct hit, missile fragments or interceptor debris. Police bomb squads and security forces remain on scene.

Magen David Adom updated its casualty figures on Sunday afternoon, reporting that six people were treated and transported to hospitals: a man in his 50s in light-to-moderate condition with limb injuries; two women, ages 54 and 38, in light condition due to blast-related trauma; a 64-year-old man lightly wounded by flying debris; and two women, aged 22 and 34, who were hurt while running for shelter.

The victims were evacuated to Shamir Medical Center (formerly known as Assaf Harofeh Medical Center) in Be’er Ya’akov, and Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan.

The incident sparked panic at Ben-Gurion Airport. Police and rescue personnel quickly cordoned off the impact area at Terminal 3 and dispatched fire teams to check for additional hazards.

The chairman of the airport workers’ union said one person suffered a confirmed minor injury in the vicinity of Terminal 3, and that authorities are investigating whether further safety procedures will impact upcoming flights.

Israeli Police were actively searching for fragments and hazardous materials linked to the projectile. “We urge the public to remain close to protected areas and not to approach or touch any suspicious debris. Officers from the Central District are sweeping the Shfela region for any further signs of impact,” police said.

In the wake of the strike, Ben-Gurion Airport halted all takeoffs and landings for approximately 30 minutes, forcing at least three inbound aircraft to remain airborne. While airport officials have since announced the resumption of activity, significant delays are expected throughout the day.

Despite air traffic gradually resuming, police confirmed that entrances to the airport remain blocked as emergency teams continue operating at the scene.

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a forceful response. “Whoever harms us, we’ll harm them sevenfold,” he said.

National Unity Party chairman Benny Gantz responded sharply, blaming Tehran rather than Yemen for the attack:

“This is not Yemen—this is Iran. It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must bear responsibility,” Gantz wrote on X.

In Yemen, senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Qatar’s Al-Araby Television Network that the group had proven its ability to hit “sensitive and strategic” sites in Israel. He declared that the Iran-backed rebel force has “no red lines” in its war against the Jewish state.

Nasser al-Din Omar, head of Houthi media operations, warned international airlines to avoid Israeli airspace, saying doing so posed a danger to aircraft safety.

Sunday’s attack is the latest escalation by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, who in recent months have repeatedly launched long-range ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, targeting strategic sites including ports, military bases, and now, the country’s main international airport. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

An internal military investigation released Sunday revealed that a group of IDF soldiers stationed near the Gaza border abandoned Israeli civilians sheltering at Zikim Beach during Hamas’s deadly incursion on October 7, 2023. The soldiers, part of the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, retreated from the beach without adequately confronting the terrorists arriving by sea, who proceeded to kill 17 people. The attackers then turned toward Kibbutz Zikim, but were repelled by the local emergency squad.

The review also noted that seven of the civilians murdered at the beach were left inside a coastal bomb shelter for an entire week before rescue crews eventually recovered their remains.

This report is one of several deep-dive probes the Israel Defense Forces has undertaken to examine the over 40 coordinated attacks carried out by Hamas during its October 7 rampage, which saw roughly 5,600 terrorists infiltrate southern Israel, leaving about 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage into Gaza. Many of those captives are still believed to be alive.

Like other similar inquiries, this investigation concluded that the army “failed in its mission to protect” those on Zikim Beach. The primary reason cited was that the military was unprepared for a large-scale, multi-front invasion, compounded by the collapse of command and control infrastructure within the Gaza Division, which made it difficult to understand the scope of the threat in real time.

“The failure is expressed in the fact that the terrorists were able to infiltrate our territory in a short time and murder 17 civilians,” the findings stated.

Colonel Tal Kuritsky, head of the 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, led the investigation into the events at Zikim, examining all dimensions of the attack both on the beach and in the nearby community.

Investigators relied on an extensive array of sources, including footage filmed by the terrorists themselves using body cams, recordings from local civilians and surveillance systems, communications among IDF units, and testimonies from survivors and soldiers.

While this particular report was limited in scope to assessing the military’s tactical response, broader inquiries are being conducted into Israel’s long-term security assumptions and policies regarding Gaza and Hamas.

The investigation sharply criticized the Golani soldiers’ conduct during the incident, describing their decision not to engage the terrorists as a grave error. “The soldiers did not risk their lives and did not strive to engage in close combat with the enemy,” the report said, calling their behavior a “massive failure” both “professionally and ethically.”

Most of the soldiers involved later took part in the IDF’s ground campaign in Gaza, although only one still serves in the military, and that individual has been reassigned to a non-combat role.

Another key revelation from the probe was that, in the initial 40 hours of the Hamas attack, communication between the Navy and the Gaza Division broke down entirely, due in part to Hamas deliberately targeting and damaging communications infrastructure.

The full investigation was divided into three segments: the naval confrontation at sea, the massacre at Zikim Beach, and the attempted infiltration of Kibbutz Zikim.

As Hamas launched its initial barrage of more than 1,000 rockets at 6:29 a.m., 38 terrorists in seven speedboats departed from Gaza, heading for the Israeli coastline. Navy findings showed that the vessels were spaced out by 600–700 meters and traveling at about 30 knots, or 55 kilometers per hour.

Their destinations included two military installations, the beach at Zikim, Kibbutz Zikim itself, and a nearby oil terminal.

At 6:36 a.m., the first speedboat crossed into Israeli waters. A Dvora-class Navy vessel from the 916th Patrol Squadron intercepted and destroyed it within minutes using a 25mm Typhoon cannon, killing all four Hamas operatives onboard.

Seeing this, the second boat turned away from the oil facility and instead landed near Zikim’s training grounds at 6:40 a.m. Three terrorists exited and linked up with other infiltrators who had breached the fence, then attacked the nearby IDF base.

The third vessel reached the vicinity of the oil terminal before being sunk at 6:43 a.m. by the same Navy craft. Additional Navy personnel aboard a Defender-class boat engaged the terrorists in the water, ultimately killing all seven aboard.

The fourth boat made landfall at Zikim Beach at 6:45 a.m., unloading five terrorists.

The fifth vessel came under Navy fire at sea, killing three terrorists and damaging the boat. Three others survived and swam to shore, attempting to reach the oil infrastructure nearby. Two of them were later eliminated around 9:30 a.m. by further naval shelling.

A sixth boat with seven Hamas members also arrived at the beach at 6:48 a.m. Another Dvora patrol boat, originally assigned to guard an offshore gas platform, launched shells toward them, killing two on the spot.

The last boat, carrying six attackers, landed near an IDF logistics base by Zikim at 6:52 a.m. Israeli sailors fired upon the group, killing four. The remaining two stormed the logistics compound but were killed in a gunfight with Golani troops.

Meanwhile, a Golani squad in a GMC Savana stationed near Zikim Base entered the IDF compound just as the attack began. At 6:42 a.m., joined by Sgt. Dvir Lisha, they received word of terrorists arriving by sea and headed to the shoreline.

At that moment, 32 civilians were hiding on the beach. Eight had taken shelter in a bathroom, 12 in a bomb shelter, two were near the beach’s shade structures, nine were scattered among the dunes and parking lot.

The soldiers reached the bathroom by 6:44 a.m. and advised the civilians there to remain inside. Then, just as the fourth Hamas boat came ashore, the troops advanced toward the waterfront.

They didn’t spot the terrorists until the attackers opened fire. Footage showed the soldiers quickly falling back to the bathroom area at 6:46 a.m. The distance between them and the gunmen was roughly 110 meters, with visibility hampered. Sgt. Lisha fired back from behind the bathroom wall, but couldn’t land any hits.

As the terrorists moved toward the shaded part of the beach, they killed two fishermen: John Aslanov and Robert Shaulov, both 70.

At this stage, the soldiers lost visual contact with the gunmen and decided to retreat again — this time to the parking lot. They left the civilians behind in both the bathroom and the shelter, moving to a raised area they believed would offer better visibility. Structures blocked their line of sight.

The terrorists continued forward and, upon spotting the soldiers, opened fire. They also killed 26-year-old Abed Ziyadne in the parking lot.

While Sgt. Lisha and one other soldier remained at the overlook, the other five moved farther south, bypassing civilians hiding in the dunes. The reasoning for this further retreat was unclear.

A new group of five terrorists from the sixth boat merged with the ones already at the beach, opening fire on the soldiers in the dunes and wounding one. Another was traumatized by the blast nearby. A Navy shell also landed near their location but caused no additional injuries.

The Hamas gunmen then massacred seven civilians hiding in the bathroom: Yuri and Svetlana Lisovoy, Shahaf Krief, Tal Keren, Or Taasa, Nadav Tayeb, and Alina Vaisberg — all between the ages of 17 and 63. In the bomb shelter, they murdered another seven: Eli and Arye Uzan, Benny Genish, Avi Hasday, Yulia Chaban, Danil Kimenfeld, and Vladimir Zhukov.

At 6:51 a.m., Lisha told a fellow soldier he was going to link up with their commander. But instead of heading toward the dunes, the soldier mistakenly ran toward the bathroom, directly into the terrorists’ location. He was killed immediately, and the attackers took his weapon.

Six of the gunmen then moved up the Shikma stream toward Kibbutz Zikim at 6:54 a.m. Four others commandeered the Golani van and drove in the same direction at 6:57 a.m.

At 6:40 a.m., the Ashdod Navy base had already alerted the kibbutz security chief about the sea-based infiltration. He quickly mobilized his defense team, who took positions by 6:42 a.m.

One member of the security team saw the stolen military van approaching at 7:04 a.m. Initially thinking it was Israeli forces, he realized the truth as four Hamas operatives emerged and began shooting. He opened fire.

The remaining terrorists, who had arrived on foot, joined the fight. The kibbutz chief and two others arrived and exchanged gunfire with them.

By 7:20 a.m., the Golani company commander returned from leave and joined the fight alongside the local defenders. Two terrorists were killed in the ensuing battle.

At 8 a.m., the attackers threw eight grenades, injuring two members of the security squad. Others replaced them at the post and continued firing back.

At 8:20 a.m., Shin Bet officer Michael Ben Moshe, 26, was ambushed and killed by the terrorists as he tried to reach a nearby army base. The terrorists took his car and returned to the Zikim Base area.

As civilians fleeing a beach party passed through the area, they were caught in the crossfire. Three were lightly hurt.

Maglan special forces arrived at 8:45 a.m. after being called in by their commander, a kibbutz resident. They joined the battle and killed two more terrorists.

The remaining Hamas operatives retreated, abandoning plans to seize the kibbutz.

Later that day, at 12:30 p.m., the 202nd Paratroopers Brigade searched the beach. They located several bodies but were redirected to Kfar Aza before finishing.

That night, additional paratroopers were sent to guard Zikim, as the army suspected some attackers remained nearby.

Two more terrorists were killed on October 8 by naval and ground forces.

On October 10, another terrorist from the fifth boat was eliminated near the oil terminal by the 17th Battalion of the Bislamach Brigade. One Israeli soldier was injured in the skirmish.

Then, on October 11, Maglan commandos engaged two more terrorists near the Shikma stream bomb shelter. Three Israeli soldiers — Master Sgt. Ido Kaslasi, Master Sgt. Daniel Kastiel, and Master Sgt. Itay Moreno — lost their lives, and seven others were injured. The two terrorists were killed.

It wasn’t until October 13 that ZAKA rescue personnel recovered the seven bodies left in the bomb shelter at the beach. The remaining victims had been removed on October 7 and 8. The delay in retrieving the seven was labeled a “severe error” in the IDF’s review.

In total, 14 of the 38 terrorists who came by sea were killed offshore, eight were killed on land shortly after arrival, and 10 were eliminated later during shootouts. The remaining six are presumed dead, though this could not be definitively confirmed.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday with a bold statement: “Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon.” While some local markets may be seeing lower prices, data from AAA on Saturday showed that the average cost of a gallon of unleaded gasoline nationwide was steady at $3.17. According to the agency, that’s a slight increase—two cents higher than the previous week.

In the same post, the President added an upbeat assessment of the economy: “groceries (and eggs!) down, energy down, mortgage rates down, employment strong, and much more good news, as Billions of Dollars pour in from Tariffs.”

However, ABC News cited several consumer pricing analysts who raised doubts about the accuracy of Trump’s claims. The network reported that grocery prices, in general, have not fallen and that national gas prices have mostly held steady rather than declined.

While the cost of many basic food items has climbed across the country, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighted that certain items—such as rice, tomatoes, and potatoes—have seen price drops. Economist David Bieri of Virginia Tech explained to ABC, “Prices are still going up—they’re just not going up as rapidly.”

Understanding economic trends depends heavily on which statistics are examined. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March Consumer Price Index report for “All Urban Consumers” showed that overall prices “decreased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, after rising 0.2 percent in February.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

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The IDF released the names of two soldiers who were killed in action during operations in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning.

Captain Noam Ravid, 23, from Sha’arei Tikva, and Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror, 20, from Omer, both served in the elite Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps. According to a statement by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the two were killed in battle in the southern sector of Gaza.

The families of both soldiers have been informed of their loss.

The same engagement in which Captain Ravid and Staff Sergeant Seror were killed also left another Yahalom Unit soldier critically wounded.

In a separate confrontation on Shabbos, a reservist serving in the 7007th Battalion of the 16th Yerushalayim Brigade sustained serious injuries while fighting in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

All injured soldiers were transported to hospitals for urgent medical care, and their families were promptly updated regarding their condition.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Two rebbes, the admorim of Vizhnitz and Erlau, were hospitalized over Shabbos in separate incidents.

On Leil Shabbos Kodesh, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Menachem Mendel Hager, was transported from his lodgings in Arad—where he had gone for rest—to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer after feeling unwell.

After undergoing a series of medical evaluations, the Rebbe is expected to be discharged from the hospital as early as Sunday.

Senior medical advisor Rav Yaakov Shakol arrived at the Rebbe’s residence in Arad on Friday night and advised immediate medical transfer for further observation.

All are asked to daven for the complete recovery of Rav Menachem Mendel ben Leah Esther.

Meanwhile, on Friday, before Shabbos, the Erlauer Rebbe, Rav Moshe ben Miriam, was taken to Hadassah Hospital after suffering a fall earlier in the week at his home. According to sources, the decision to hospitalize the Rebbe was made after his condition worsened and the pain intensified. As Shabbos began, the Erlauer kehillah held special tefillos for his recovery, and the Rebbe remained under medical supervision throughout the day.

The rebbe had planned to depart for a period of rest in Switzerland on Sunday, but that trip has now been postponed, and he will remain in Eretz Yisroel for the time being.

All are asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Moshe ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Yerushalayim’s Ezras Torah neighborhood is in mourning following the passing of one of its founding pillars, Rav Zev Hakohein (Velvel) Kopshitz zt”l. He was 71 years old and had been battling illness over the past year.

Rav Kopshitz passed away on Leil Shabbos Kodesh, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to Torah, community, and kedushah. He was among the early builders and shapers of the Ezras Torah neighborhood and played a key role in its spiritual development.

Born in Yerushalayim on the 10th of Elul in 1953, Rav Zev was the only son among daughters to his father, the eminent gaon Rav Avraham Hakohein Kopshitz zt”l, a leading rosh yeshiva at Kochav MiYaakov-Tchebin and rav of the Neve Tzvi neighborhood in Yerushalauyim. His mother, Rebbetzin Mina a”h, was a daughter of Rav Chaim Shraga Feivel Frank zt”l, the rav of the Yemin Moshe neighborhood.

Through his father, Rav Kopshitz was a descendant of the mara d’ara d’Yisroel, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt”l.

He was raised in a home filled with Torah and yiras Shamayim, and as a young man, he studied at the Chevron Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he developed into a true ben Torah.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed the daughter of Rav Aharon Teitelbaum zt”l of Tiveria. Together, they built their home in Ezras Torah, where Rav Kopshitz became a distinguished and respected member of the community.

Among his many contributions, Rav Kopshitz was instrumental in establishing rabbinic leadership for the neighborhood. He played a central role in bringing Rav Simcha Bunim Waldenberg zt”l to serve as the community’s rav. Rav Kopshitz personally traveled to the home of the Steipler Gaon zt”l to obtain his signature on the appointment letter.

Over the years, Rav Kopshitz was deeply involved in public struggles for kedushas Shabbos and other values dear to Torah Yidden. One of his most notable efforts was his leadership in the battle to close the Ramot road on Shabbos, an effort that gained widespread attention. He was known as a fierce advocate for the sanctity of klal Yisrael.

A meticulous observer of mitzvos and a man of great yiras Shamayim, he was also widely known for distributing top-quality esrogim—the “Zev Kopshitz esrogim”—sourced from the prestigious Kirshenbaum orchards. His matzah chaburah was equally well known, producing meticulously prepared Brisker matzos, carefully supervised from the harvesting of the wheat through every stage of production with the highest standards of hiddur.

He merited to leave behind sons, daughters, and many grandchildren, all following in his path.

The levayah was held this evening at his home at 31 Rechov Ezras Torah in Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.

A baby girl was born on Friday to the widow of Rav Refoel Mordechai Fishoff Hy”d, the yungerman who was murdered in a terror attack in Chadera on Erev Yom Kippur.

The newborn is the seventh child in the family and will never have the chance to meet her father.

Rav Refoel Mordechai was just 35 years old when he was killed by a terrorist in a brutal attack in Chadera. He left behind six young orphans and a grieving wife.

Known for his exceptional prishus, piety, and unwavering dedication to limud haTorah, Rav Refoel Mordechai immersed himself in learning day and night. In his youth, he studied at the Derech Moshe Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. He continued his learning at Yeshivas Knesses Yitzchok in Chadera, where he remained a model of consistency and depth in learning.

During the brief shiva that took place before Yom Kippur, Rav Fishoff’s widow shared a deeply personal detail with Rav Yehoshua Ehrenberg, the rosh yeshiva. She revealed that throughout his life, her husband would often say that he wished to merit dying al kiddush Hashem.

Now, within the year of mourning, the family’s sorrow is tempered by the birth of this new child. As Chazal teach in the Yerushalmi Maseches Moed Katan, during the year of mourning, middas hadin hovers over the bereaved family. But if a son is born within that year, it is a sign that the family has been healed. Many poskim explain that this applies not only to a son, but also to a daughter, and indeed to any source of joy within the family. In the words of the Gemara, “Nisrapa kol hamishpacha.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Gadi Mozes, who was previously held hostage in Gaza, is urging Israeli leaders to bring the war to an end in order to secure the release of the remaining captives.

Mozes delivered his message during a rally in Kiryat Gat held in support of a hostage release agreement.

“For the first time in my life, I could not say ‘Glory of the State of Israel,’… on Independence Day,” Mozes lamented.

He harshly criticized what he described as a “evil” leadership that failed to prevent the October 7 massacre, saying the government “led us like sheep to the slaughter” and refuses to take responsibility for what occurred that day.

Mozes accused Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s administration of undermining Israel’s institutions, including the IDF, the High Court of Justice, and the Attorney General’s Office.

“This war is pointless and wastes the state’s resources,” Mozes said. “The two million Gazans will not disappear.”

While he affirmed that the army should take action against threats, Mozes insisted that rescuing the hostages must be Israel’s highest priority.

“The military conflict must end and everyone must be brought home,” Mozes said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to travel to Israel shortly ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East later this month.

According to Axios, Hegseth is scheduled to land in Israel on May 12, a day before Trump begins his regional tour, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

This visit will mark Hegseth’s first time in Israel since taking on the role of defense secretary, and during his stay, he is set to hold meetings with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Legendary investor Warren Buffett said today that he plans to step down from his role leading Berkshire Hathaway.

Buffett, 94, serves as the conglomerate’s chairman and chief executive. He said today that he will recommend to the Berkshire Hathaway board that longtime executive Greg Abel become CEO at the end of 2025.

“I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end,” Buffett said onstage at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha.

Buffett has previously signaled that his successor as CEO would be Abel, who already oversees Berkshire’s Wall Street investments. Abel has spent more than two decades at Berkshire.

Although Buffett will give up his official duties, he plans to keep his large stake in the company and plans to remain an informal presence there. “I would still hang around and conceivably be useful in a few cases, but the final word would be what Greg said,” Buffett said.

Other than Buffett’s children, most of Berkshire’s board of directors – including Abel – did not know of his intention to retire this year until his public announcement at the shareholder meeting, he said.

According to the Associated Press, Abel addressed the news onstage about an hour after Buffett’s announcement. “I just want to say I couldn’t be more humbled and honored to be part of Berkshire as we go forward,” he said.

Buffett, whose sustained success as an investor earned him the nickname “Oracle of Omaha,” is the fifth-richest person in the world, according to Forbes Magazine – amassing a net worth of some $168 billion. He became chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in 1970 and earned a reputation as a savvy stock picker whose investments outperformed the S&P 500 index more often than not.

Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio for decades included a stake in The Washington Post Co., then controlled by the Graham family. He stepped down from The Post board in 2011. The newspaper was sold to billionaire Jeff Bezos in 2013.

Though Buffett became famous for his stock picks, Berkshire Hathaway over the years became a conglomerate in its own right, with wholly owned subsidiaries that have a massive presence in industries such as insurance, cargo rail, utilities and energy production.

Abel is chair of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and vice chair of Berkshire’s operations excluding insurance.

Abel is ready to take over as CEO, company director Ron Olson told CNBC. Olson, who is poised to step down from Berkshire’s board himself, said he hoped Buffett could continue to play an advisory role, comparing him to former vice chair Charlie Munger, who was seen as Buffett’s closest business partner before his death in 2023.

“I am very anxious to see Warren become the Charlie Munger for Greg Abel,” Olson said.

Earlier in today’s meeting, Buffett criticized tariffs and defended global trade, arguing that the United States stands to prosper by continuing to trade with international partners freely.

Buffett had previously refrained from publicly weighing in on President Donald Trump’s efforts to levy sweeping tariffs on American adversaries and allies alike. Buffett did not directly reference Trump on today, but he told the Omaha audience that “trade should not be a weapon.”

“Trade can be an act of war,” Buffett said. “And I think it’s led to bad things, just the attitudes it’s brought out in the United States.”

A trade war threatens to isolate the United States from the rest of the world, Buffett said.

“It’s a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don’t like you very well, and you have 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they’ve done,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right and I don’t think it’s wise.”

(c) 2025, The Washington Post · Maegan Vazquez 

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Lipskar zt”l, rov of The Shul of Bal Harbour, Florida, as well as the founder of the Aleph Institute. He was niftar on Shabbos at the age of 77.

Rabbi Lipskar was one of Klal Yisroel‘s great and selfless askanim, humble, kind, soft-spoken, and always working to be mekadeish Sheim Shomayim.

Rabbi Lipskar received semicha in 1968 from the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva at 770. After marrying his wife, Chani, he was sent on shlichus to Miami Beach, where Rabbi Lipskar took on the role of principal at the Chabad Yeshiva. He later established the Yeshiva Gedolah and led it as Principal and Dean, overseeing all levels of education from elementary through high school.

In 1981, he founded The Shul of Bal Harbour, which would become a central and vibrant hub of Torah, tefillah, and community life.

That same year, he also launched the Aleph Institute, a groundbreaking national organization dedicated to providing Jewish education, support, and advocacy for those in prison, in the military, and for their families.

Rabbi Lipskar also served as the official chaplain endorser for the U.S. Department of Defense and led the Educational Academy for the Elderly, where he helped develop new educational frameworks to meet the needs of senior citizens.

He leaves behind his wife, Chani, and their children, Zalman Lipskar and Devorah Leah Andrusier.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Diplomatic-Security Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Sunday evening to finalize a proposal for intensifying military operations in Gaza and to approve a gradual but extensive call-up of reserve troops.

At the same time, tens of thousands of reservists are expected to receive emergency mobilization orders—marking the fifth such wave of call-ups since the war began.

These newly summoned reservists are slated to be deployed in various regions, such as along the northern border and in Judea and Samaria. Their presence in these areas will allow combat units currently stationed there to shift focus and spearhead the next stage of operations in Gaza.

The move has sparked strong opposition from families of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. They issued a statement saying, “Israel is on its way to immerse itself in Gaza’s mud in the name of an illusion that some victory can be achieved without returning our brothers and sisters from captivity. It will be mourned for generations.”

The families urged the government to reconsider its course of action, warning, “The families warn against the dangerous decision currently being made. The expansion of the fighting will endanger the hostages, both alive and dead, will cost lives of our soldiers and will exact a heavy price from tens of thousands of reservists and their families. We call on the government of Israel and the army commanders to stop this mistake. We have to make a deal that will bring everyone back.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump chose to remove National Security Advisor Mike Waltz after learning that Waltz had held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu about potential military options concerning Iran, according to reports.

The Washington Post reported that Waltz spoke with Netanyahu several times in the lead-up to the Prime Minister’s February visit to the White House—interactions that reportedly provoked Trump’s ire.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office pushed back against the claims in a formal statement: “Contrary to the Washington Post report, PM Netanyahu did not have intensive contact with Mike Waltz on Iran. PM Netanyahu had a warm meeting with Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff at Blair House in February prior to the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump at the White House. Mike Waltz also joined VP JD Vance in a meeting with the PM before leaving Washington. Since then, the PM, the former National Security Advisor and Steve Witkoff had one phone conversation that did not deal with Iran.”

Adding to the controversy, the Washington Post indicated that a final tipping point in Waltz’s removal came when a reporter from The Atlantic was mistakenly added to a private group chat where discussions about potential action against the Houthis were taking place.

Trump made Waltz’s dismissal official on Thursday. At the same time, he announced that Waltz would be nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over the role of National Security Advisor. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

{Matzav.com}

Qatar issued a sharp rebuke late Saturday night following pointed remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu criticizing the Gulf nation.

Netanyahu’s comments came after Qatar condemned Israel during proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a public statement, Netanyahu said, “Israel is fighting a just war with just means. After the October 7 atrocities, Prime Minister Netanyahu defined the War of Redemption as a war between civilization and barbarism.” He continued, “The time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it’s on the side of civilization or if it’s on the side of Hamas barbarism. Israel will win this just war with just means.”

In reply, Dr. Majed Al Ansari, the official spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, took to X with a lengthy post condemning Netanyahu’s accusations. He wrote, “The State of Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility. Portraying the ongoing aggression against Gaza as a defense of ‘civilization’ echoes the rhetoric of regimes throughout history that have used false narratives to justify crimes against innocent civilians.”

Al Ansari also emphasized Qatar’s active role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, writing, “Since the outbreak of the war, the State of Qatar, working in close coordination with its partners, has made every effort to support mediation aimed at ending the fighting, protecting civilians, and securing the release of hostages. A legitimate question must be raised: Were the releases of no fewer than 138 hostages achieved through so called ‘just’ military operations, or through the very mediation that is now being unjustly criticized and undermined?”

He further accused Israel of inflicting immense suffering on Gaza’s population: “Meanwhile,” he charged, “the Palestinian people in Gaza are enduring one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of modern times marked by a suffocating blockade, systematic starvation, denial of medicine and shelter, and the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion. Is this truly the model of ‘civilization’ being promoted?”

Al Ansari concluded his response by asserting Qatar’s continued commitment to humanitarian principles, stating, “Campaigns of distortion and political pressure will not deter Qatar from standing with oppressed peoples, defending the rights of civilians regardless of background, and upholding international law without selectivity or exception.” He also said that Qatar is still working alongside Egypt and the United States “to secure an immediate ceasefire, ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid, and advance a just and lasting peace one grounded in justice and humanity, not violence and double standards.”

Netanyahu’s remarks were prompted by statements made earlier by Qatari diplomat Mutlaq Al-Qahtani at The Hague, who declared, “We are witnessing new trails of tears in the West Bank, mirroring Gaza’s fate. In Gaza, Palestinians face famine-like conditions, as Israel has completely blocked life-saving aid for millions of Palestinians.”

Al-Qahtani continued, “It has continued its genocidal war against the Palestinian people of Gaza, which is not only an international crime but the crime of crimes, which shocks the conscience of mankind. Israel is using aid as a tool of extortion to further its military goals and as an act of collective punishment.”

{Matzav.com}

Today, the Hamas terror group released a video showing that hostage Maxim Herkin is still alive.

Herkin, 36, who lives in Tirat Hacarmel, was abducted during the Nova music festival in Re’im. Originally from Donetsk, Ukraine, Herkin’s mother is also a Russian citizen.

Back in February, Israel’s Ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, stated that Moscow was actively working on securing Herkin’s freedom.

The timing of the video’s release coincided with Israel’s internal discussions about intensifying its military campaign in Gaza. The proposal to escalate operations is scheduled to be brought before the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet on Sunday for approval.

The decision to step up military efforts was reached on Friday during a high-level discussion led by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, following the prior endorsement of the plan by Defense Minister Yisroel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. An Israeli official later remarked, “As long as Hamas does not release our hostages, we will continue to significantly deepen our military action.”

“This is what is going to happen unless Hamas agrees at the last minute to a deal and to release the hostages.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump ignited a wave of backlash online after he uploaded an image of himself clad in papal attire.

The digitally altered photo showed Trump seated on the papal throne, lifting one finger in the air. He posted it on his Truth Social platform, and the same image later appeared on his presidential Twitter account. There was no accompanying caption or explanation. While the post quickly attracted tens of thousands of likes, it also prompted a flood of criticism.

The controversial post surfaced shortly after Trump had been questioned by journalists outside the White House about who he thought should succeed Pope Francis. In response, he said, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.” Many who saw the image on social media were not amused. One user commented that it was “disgusting,” while others described it as “disturbing,” “disrespectful,” and “offensive.”

“I love Trump but find his meme about the Pope disrespectful and insulting. God should not be ridiculed,” one person wrote. Another added, “Please remove this. Many Catholics, including myself, see it as a great disrespect towards the past and future leader of our church.”