Matzav

British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed on Sunday that the United Kingdom has been actively engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to bring about the ceasefire in Gaza.

“We’ve played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this,” she said in an interview with Sky News, emphasizing what she described as London’s quiet but significant influence on the agreement.

Her remarks quickly drew criticism from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who dismissed her statement as baseless. In a sharp rebuke posted to Twitter, he wrote, “I assure you she’s delusional. She can thank President Trump anytime just to set the record straight.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Israel on Monday, October 13, for a tightly scheduled visit expected to last just a few hours.

According to the official itinerary, the visit will begin at 9:20 a.m., when President Trump will be greeted at Ben-Gurion International Airport by President Isaac Herzog, along with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara.

At 10:15 a.m., Prime Minister Netanyahu will host President Trump for a private meeting in his Knesset office to discuss key regional developments and bilateral relations.

At 10:45 a.m., President Trump, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, will meet with the families of hostages at the Knesset, offering them words of comfort and solidarity.

At 11:00 a.m., President Trump will address the Knesset plenum alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid.

The visit will conclude at 1:00 p.m., when President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Sara Netanyahu will accompany President Trump back to Ben-Gurion Airport for his departure.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Motzaei Shabbos, a special gathering was held at the Hayazdim shul in Yerushalayim, where crowds assembled to welcome the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, at a traditional reception in his honor.

The event drew numerous prominent figures, including city rabbonim, dayanim, roshei yeshiva, and members of the Chief Rabbinate Council, all eager to hear the Rishon LeTzion’s weekly shiur.

During his Torah address, Rav Yosef spoke about the anticipated return of the hostages and publicly praised US President Donald Trump for his decisive role in bringing about their release. He declared, “We are privileged to hear of the hostages returning home. The price is indeed high, but thank G-d they are coming back – thanks to a kingdom of kindness, America, and the Righteous Among the Nations, the US President.”

Rav Yosef also discussed the halachic aspects surrounding this momentous event, explaining that the returning hostages would have special reason to recite the Shehecheyanu blessing multiple times over Sukkos. “There are three Shehecheyanu brachos here,” he explained. “They will bless for the sukkah, for the daled minim, and for their parents: Shehecheyanu for seeing them again after two years. It will be a sanctification of God’s name.”

The Rishon LeTzion further instructed that every shul across Eretz Yisroel should sing Nishmas Kol Chai on Simchas Torah as an expression of hoda’ah and joy “for the miracle that they have been released to good lives and peace.”

Turning emotional, Rav Yosef addressed the painful loss of those hostages who were murdered and whose bodies are to be returned as part of the agreement. “Those killed for being Jews will sit in the first row of Gan Eden because they were killed while they were Jews,” he said somberly.

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef shared a poignant revelation about the halachic challenges that arose during the war. He disclosed that senior defense officials had visited his home to seek psak halachah on determining death in cases of missing hostages, so that their wives could be freed from the status of agunos. “A great effort was made so that not a single woman remained an agunah,” he stressed.

{Matzav.com Israel}

One of the inmates slated for release under the current hostage exchange agreement has been disqualified from the deal following a violent attack on an Israel Prison Service (IPS) guard.

Authorities confirmed that the prisoner’s custody has been extended by an additional three days as he was handed over to Israel Police for questioning and formal arrest proceedings.

The altercation occurred at Ketziot Prison, where the inmate—who was not originally included among those approved for release but had been detained during the IDF’s ground offensive in Gaza—assaulted a female prison officer, causing injuries that required medical attention.

Security personnel from an IPS unit accompanying the officer quickly intervened and restrained the attacker before transferring him into police custody for investigation.

In a statement, the Israel Prison Service said, “A detainee attacked a detention officer. She required local medical treatment. The detention personnel continue to operate in the prisons and in the deportation complexes against the worst of the enemies even at this hour, in accordance with the guidance of the politicians, all in order to enable the return of the hostages to Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator, Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch, announced Sunday that the country is ready for the long-awaited release of hostages, which is anticipated to start early Monday morning.

Hirsch told reporters, “At the moment, on Monday at 6-7, the release begins to be realistic. But things can change.”

He explained that “Each Red Cross convoy that takes the hostages is expected to consist of between eight and 10 vehicles, including an ambulance, in case of an emergency.” He added, “Everything the Red Cross asked for from us, they got.”

Once the first group of hostages is released, they will immediately be received by Israeli representatives, including professionals specially trained and experienced in handling hostage returns over the past two years. The initial interaction will take place as soon as the hostages cross out of Gaza.

Following their initial debriefing, the hostages will be transported to Camp Re’im, where they will be reunited with their families. The military base has undergone significant expansion to accommodate the larger number of hostages expected this time. Each returnee will also receive a comprehensive medical evaluation upon arrival.

According to the health coordination plan, 10 of the released hostages will be taken to Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, five will be transferred to Beilinson Hospital, and another five to Ichilov Hospital. Soroka and Barzilai hospitals remain on high alert to receive additional hostages if required.

Once the Red Cross successfully completes the transport of the living hostages to Israel, its teams will return to Gaza to recover the remains of those who perished while in captivity.

Hirsch also referred to the multinational task force set up to locate the missing—jointly led by the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey—which will begin its mission after the bodies are retrieved. As Hirsch stated, “Where engineering activity is required, we will allow the entry of engineering equipment, or specialists if needed.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Saudi news outlets al-Hadath and al-Arabiya reported Sunday, quoting Arab officials, that the remains of an Israeli intelligence operative buried in Syria could soon be handed back to Israel.

Eli Cohen (1924–1965), one of Israel’s most celebrated spies, infiltrated the top ranks of Syria’s political and military establishment under the false identity of Kamel Amin Thaabet. From within Damascus, he transmitted critical intelligence about Syrian military deployments, including defensive networks overlooking the Golan Heights. In 1965, his cover was exposed, and he was captured and executed by hanging in the Syrian capital.

In May, Syria transferred several of Cohen’s personal effects back to Israel—a gesture that, according to a Reuters report, was seen as a deliberate move to show goodwill toward US President Donald Trump and to lay the groundwork for potential diplomatic engagement with Israel.

In a separate but related operation, the Mossad and Israel’s Strategic Intelligence Service succeeded in retrieving the official Syrian intelligence archive documenting Cohen’s espionage work.

The covert mission, carried out around the 60th anniversary of Cohen’s execution, is regarded as one of Israel’s most delicate and complex intelligence undertakings in recent years. The recovered materials had been safeguarded by Syrian security agencies for decades, hidden away from public knowledge.

Among the recovered possessions was Cohen’s handwritten will, composed just hours before his execution, along with personal items confiscated from his home after his arrest.

The archive consisted of approximately 2,500 pieces—documents, audio recordings, photographs, correspondence, and journals—many of which were made public for the first time. Collectively, they provide an extensive chronicle of Cohen’s intelligence-gathering activities and his subsequent interrogation by Syrian authorities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

West Chester real estate agents Heather Harrison and Zach Harrison say concerns over the election, taxes and security are driving New Yorkers out of the city.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Jared Kushner has returned to a central diplomatic role for the Trump White House, spearheading renewed efforts to achieve a lasting peace agreement in the Middle East. His reemergence underscores both his enduring influence in the region and his expanding business network across the Gulf.

Once one of President Trump’s most trusted advisers during his first term, Kushner had largely stayed out of the political spotlight during the second administration. Now, however, he has reappeared to help lead one of Trump’s most ambitious foreign policy undertakings.

“I put Jared there because he’s a very smart person and he knows the region, knows the people, knows a lot of the players,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Thursday.

Kushner is working closely with special envoy Steve Witkoff to finalize a deal that would see Hamas release 20 living hostages from the October 7, 2023, attacks while Israel agrees to temporarily halt military operations in Gaza.

Although Kushner has no official title in the administration, he has been serving as an informal adviser behind the scenes. Two U.S. officials said Thursday evening that Witkoff has been keeping Kushner regularly updated on the peace negotiations, and that his involvement has intensified in recent days as the agreement nears completion.

According to the officials, Kushner and Witkoff were the primary architects of Trump’s detailed 20-point peace framework aimed at ending the conflict.

Both men were subsequently sent to Egypt to help finalize the deal, which Trump announced Wednesday night on Truth Social. Since the public announcement, they have met with top officials from both Egypt and Israel to push the agreement forward.

“They’re an incredible team working together, facing some substantial impediments to even being there,” national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during Thursday’s Cabinet session.

Even as he has stepped into this informal diplomatic role, Kushner has simultaneously expanded his business ventures in the Gulf, strengthening ties with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

White House officials have dismissed questions about potential conflicts of interest arising from these business connections. When pressed by reporters, press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced the scrutiny as “despicable.”

“Jared is donating his energy and his time to our government, to the president of the United States, to secure world peace. And that is a very noble thing,” Leavitt said, commending Kushner’s relationships across the Middle East.

Kushner first cultivated those connections during Trump’s initial term, when he played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. Middle East policy.

He led the administration’s original peace plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hoping to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. That plan, unveiled in January 2020 under the title Prosperity to Peace, spanned 181 pages and centered on using economic development to promote political stability among Palestinians.

Although the proposal never materialized, it laid the groundwork for the Abraham Accords — the 2020 diplomatic breakthrough that saw the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establish formal relations with Israel after the U.S. persuaded Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to halt plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

The Abraham Accords remain one of Trump’s most celebrated achievements, and he has repeatedly criticized the Nobel Peace Prize committee for failing to recognize his role in brokering the agreements.

In the years since, Kushner’s private-sector ventures have flourished in tandem with those diplomatic relationships. Through his firm Affinity Partners, he has reportedly secured $2 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia, $1.2 billion from Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi-based Lunate, and recently partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to acquire Electronic Arts in a $55 billion deal that included Silver Lake as a co-investor.

These expanding business ties have unfolded alongside Trump’s renewed diplomatic push in the region. The president’s first major overseas trip of his second term took him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE this past May, as he continued to advocate for an expanded Abraham Accords. However, both Trump and Kushner have acknowledged that Saudi Arabia will not move forward until Israel’s war in Gaza concludes and progress toward a Palestinian state is visible.

Kushner’s public profile grew further in late August, when he joined former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for internal White House discussions about rebuilding Gaza after the conflict.

“When he and Tony Blair went to see the president, that was reflecting, I think, what was a fair amount of behind-the-scenes work that had gone into developing this plan,” said Dennis Ross, a veteran diplomat and fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, during a panel on Thursday.

The urgency of those talks increased after Israel’s strikes on Hamas officials in Doha in September, prompting Gulf states to outline key conditions for an end to hostilities and a future Palestinian state.

“I have little doubt that he was a major force in terms of moving to get this into a higher level of focus for the president,” Ross said of Kushner, noting he has spoken with him multiple times during Trump’s current term.

“Obviously, Steve Witkoff saw Jared as being a major help, a major asset, and his involvement seemed to be timed with much more of a high-level effort to get it done.”

Still, some observers have expressed reservations about the unconventional structure of the peace initiative. Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and a former Palestinian negotiator, said that relying on figures outside of government demonstrates both innovation and risk.

“First of all, for me, this is a sign, frankly, that this is the kind of staff work that usually is done within the administration. It shows us some of the kind of challenges moving forward in terms of the work that usually is done in government now as being from the outside government,” he said.

“That said, I want to emphasize how strong the relations that Kushner and Blair have in the region, and the more I see them involved, the more I have a sense that the region is on board with this, at least at the leadership level.”

Kushner told The New York Times that his private-sector perspective has actually made him more effective in these negotiations, drawing parallels between diplomacy and his prior work in real estate.

“The experience that Steve and I have as deal guys is that you have to understand people… You have to be able to kind of get the bottom line out of them, and then see who do you think is playing games, and how much room do you have to push things?” he told the paper.

“A lot of the people who do this are history professors, because they have a lot of experience, or diplomats. It’s just different being deal guys — just a different sport.”

A senior U.S. official told The Hill that after the first phase of the peace deal is completed, Kushner is expected to return to his familiar role as an “available adviser” to the president.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is reportedly going to great lengths to make it back to Washington, D.C., next week, where he plans to personally bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon the late Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk. The event is scheduled to take place at the White House on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, confirmed the plan in a post on X. “President Trump is moving heaven and earth to get back to D.C. to award Charlie the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would be his 32nd birthday. Thank you, Mr. President. We see what it took to pull this off, and we’re incredibly grateful.”

Trump had first announced his intention to honor Kirk posthumously during a September 11 memorial event held at the Pentagon. At that time, he described Kirk as “a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions,” explaining that the Presidential Medal of Freedom represents the nation’s highest civilian distinction. He vowed to hold a ceremony that would truly reflect the depth of Kirk’s legacy and influence.

Kirk, who was just 31, tragically lost his life on September 10 after being shot while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University. The event was part of his national “American Comeback Tour,” which had drawn enthusiastic crowds of students across the United States. His death led to an outpouring of grief, tributes from public figures across the political spectrum, and a wave of memorials held in cities throughout the country and abroad.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, Trump reiterated his determination to personally attend the upcoming tribute despite his packed schedule. “I’m coming back. I believe it’s Tuesday night for Charlie Kirk, a friend of mine, a friend of all of ours, a friend of a lot of the people right here. And we’re giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor you get outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor, one’s military, one’s civilian, but it’s, it’s the greatest honor. And Erika his beautiful wife is going to be here, and a lot of people are going to be here. So it’s not easy for me to get back. It’s, a very quick trip, but I’ll be making two major stops, and then I’ll be on the plane trying to get back in time for Charlie. They’re going to have a great celebration at the White House, in the East Room of the White House,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has informed mediators that it is prepared to release the 20 surviving hostages as soon as Sunday—one day earlier than expected—according to officials familiar with the negotiations.

The terror group conveyed to Israel that the captives could be freed before President Trump, the key architect of the peace accord, lands in the region, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources close to the talks.

Although the release had been anticipated for Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu said the country stands ready to act at a moment’s notice.

“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said Sunday.

The hostages’ release is a core component of the peace framework Trump helped negotiate between Israel and Hamas. Intelligence officials estimate that Hamas is holding 20 living captives along with the remains of at least 28 others.

According to the deal finalized last week, Hamas was given a 72-hour deadline to hand over the living hostages. Israel acknowledged that recovering the bodies of those who perished will likely take longer.

That delay stems from Hamas’ assertion that it has lost track of where some of the bodies are buried. “The IDF has completed its preparations for the release of the hostages and assesses that all of them will be released before Trump’s arrival,” a source told the Kan public broadcaster.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel early Monday to address the Knesset before continuing to Egypt as part of a regional tour marking the landmark peace agreement.

In tandem with the hostages’ release, large-scale humanitarian aid deliveries are being organized for Gaza. The terms of the deal require that aid be sent into the enclave at levels no lower than those agreed upon in January.

The Egyptian Red Crescent said that 400 trucks carrying 9,000 tons of goods—including medical supplies, food, fuel, blankets, and mobile sanitation facilities—are being prepared for immediate transport into Gaza.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz emphasized that Israel intends to continue dismantling what remains of Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure after the hostages’ return, working alongside international partners involved in Gaza’s reconstruction.

According to Wall Street Journal estimates, Israeli forces have so far destroyed between 30% and 40% of Hamas’ vast underground network.

{Matzav.com}

Socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani was forced to flee Lower Manhattan on Friday after being confronted by an irate protester who shouted accusations of antisemitism and clashed physically with one of Mamdani’s aides.

The man, identified by sources as 55-year-old Raul Rivera of the Bronx, followed Mamdani closely as the politician was escorted by security to his SUV, according to video footage of the altercation.

Rivera — who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly biting a Mamdani campaign volunteer — hurled insults and profanities while Mamdani ignored him and climbed into the vehicle, the footage shows.

Mamdani had been attending a rally in Foley Square in support of state Attorney General Letitia James, who is facing federal charges for bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The event drew several progressive lawmakers and activists.

“Antisemite! Denounce Sharia law! Denounce Hezbollah! You can’t do it!” Rivera yells in the clip, as Mamdani, turning his back on him, walks toward the waiting SUV.

“Walk the narrow or you’re going to jail with Tish!” Rivera continues shouting as Mamdani enters the vehicle.

When Rivera moved too close to the SUV, one of Mamdani’s staffers pushed him back after he called Mamdani a “[profanity] rat.” Rivera, noticeably shorter and wearing a backward baseball cap, retaliated by shoving the aide several times while clutching what appeared to be a President Trump flag, repeatedly shouting, “Get the [profanity] off me, bro!”

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who was nearby but not part of the scuffle, stepped toward the cameras to make a statement.

“One of the good things is we’re out here to allow people like this to do this. In an authoritarian regime, they’d be thrown away, but we protect everybody — including them,” Williams said, flashing a peace sign before walking off.

As Mamdani’s vehicle pulled away, the driver could be heard yelling at Rivera to “get a job.” Moments later, the car sped off with Mamdani inside.

Rivera has long been a disruptive presence in New York politics, heckling both liberal and conservative officials at public appearances.

“He harasses everyone,” said one Democratic councilman. “He’s a loser.”

In June, Rivera allegedly bit a 29-year-old volunteer working for Mamdani during a Lower Manhattan news conference. The woman was hospitalized and Rivera was charged with assault, as first reported by PIX-11.

At that same event, Rivera accused Mamdani of being anti-Israel and allegedly attacked the volunteer when she stepped in to defend the candidate.

His latest confrontation came after Mamdani marked the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 terror massacre by accusing Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza.

During that post, Mamdani wrote that Israel was carrying out a “genocidal war” and that the United States “has been complicit through it all.”

Mamdani has also charged that Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu are guilty of apartheid against the Palestinian people — comments that have sparked condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

The candidate declined to comment on Friday’s incident, and Rivera could not be reached.

Mamdani has faced repeated backlash for his refusal to disavow his past use of the slogan “globalize the intifada,” though he has since insisted that he supports Israel and condemns antisemitism.

The confrontation erupted shortly after Mamdani’s fiery defense of Letitia James, whom he portrayed as a victim of political persecution.

“This is a blatant miscarriage of justice. This is a shameless act of political retribution,” Mamdani seethed in response to the indictment.

“And instead of prosecuting Tish James for doing her job, Donald Trump should be doing his.”

James, who last year secured a civil judgment against Trump and the Trump Organization over inflated property valuations — a case that resulted in $355 million in penalties before being overturned on appeal — has long been a target of Trump’s public ire.

{Matzav.com}

A beautiful and uplifting Simchas Bais Hashoeivah was held in the sukkah of Rav Yehoshua Krupenia, rosh kollel at Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.

The event drew a distinguished gathering of rabbanim, dayanim, and talmidei chachomim, many of whom consider themselves talmidim of Rav Krupenia, having studied Choshen Mishpat under his guidance over the years.

Among the attendees were Rav Chaim Meir Roth, Rav Yosef Fund, Rav Ari Marburger, Rav Yonasan Rubin, Rav Zafrani, Rav Mandelbaum, Dayan Hillel Fried, Rav Moshe Peretz Schwartz, Rav Mendel Weinberger, Rav Sharf, and others.

Rav Krupenia is one of Lakewood’s longtime senior talmidei chachomim and a revered figure in the world of halacha and Choshen Mishpat. He is a son of Rav Levi Krupenia zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kamenitz, and a son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha. His decades of dedication to harbotzas haTorah have produced many prominent dayanim and rabbanim across the Torah world.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department is reportedly preparing to file criminal charges against John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump, according to an exclusive MSNBC report.

Federal prosecutors in Maryland are said to be considering whether to present the case to a grand jury or to proceed more quickly by filing a direct criminal complaint, which could happen as early as next week.

Bolton, 76, worked in the Trump administration from 2018 to 2019 and has since become one of the president’s harshest detractors. A veteran Republican foreign policy hawk, he has repeatedly condemned Trump’s management of classified information and his foreign policy approach.

MSNBC correspondent Carol Leonnig reported that acting U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes believes prosecutors have a strong case indicating that Bolton mishandled sensitive government documents found at his Maryland residence. According to the report, FBI agents spent several hours searching the home and left with multiple boxes of materials.

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued that the documents were “decades old” and consistent with what senior officials commonly retain after leaving public service.

Both Reuters and The Washington Post confirmed that Bolton remains under federal investigation. Their reports cited court filings showing that during an August search, FBI agents confiscated cellphones, computers, and folders marked “Trump I-IV.”

According to The Washington Post, the inquiry centers on potential violations of the Espionage Act.

Should charges be filed, Bolton would become the third high-profile critic of Trump to be prosecuted in recent weeks, following former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. MSNBC reported that both prior cases faced pushback within the Justice Department, whereas officials in Maryland appear unified in their pursuit of the Bolton case.

Legal experts interviewed by MSNBC expressed surprise at the development, describing Bolton as a disciplined, rule-abiding official with a longstanding reputation for caution.

Some analysts suggested that the recent spate of prosecutions against figures who have publicly opposed Trump could reflect a broader campaign of political retaliation. However, administration officials have maintained that all charges are based solely on evidence and legal merit, not political motives.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has been deemed in “exceptional health” following what he called a “semiannual physical” conducted on Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, according to a statement from White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella.

After undergoing a thorough medical evaluation that included imaging scans, laboratory testing, and a full preventive assessment, Trump was given a clean bill of health Friday night. Specialists found that his cardiac age measures an impressive 14 years younger than his actual age of 79.

Dr. Barbabella’s report also noted that Trump received multiple vaccinations during the visit, including his annual flu shot and a COVID-19 booster, in preparation for his upcoming trip to the Middle East.

“President Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health,” the physician stated.

“He continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction. President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.”

Barbabella, a Navy captain, said Trump’s blood tests produced “exceptional” results, showing “stable metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac parameters.”

“These evaluations were performed in coordination with leading academic and medical consultants to ensure optimal cardiovascular health and continued wellness,” he added.

This latest assessment comes six months after Barbabella’s previous report in April, which described Trump as “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief and in “excellent cognitive and physical health.” That earlier evaluation credited Trump’s active lifestyle and his “frequent victories in golf events” as contributing factors.

At the time, Trump proudly told reporters that he had aced a cognitive exam, using the moment to contrast himself with Joe Biden, who was widely criticized for his noticeable mental decline before leaving office.

Barbabella confirmed that Trump achieved a “normal” score of 30 out of 30 on that test.

In July, three months after that report, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency—a circulatory condition—after experiencing “mild swelling” in his lower legs.

The condition, which often develops in people who sit or stand for extended periods, results when blood pools in the veins instead of efficiently returning to the heart. Doctors typically treat it with compression stockings and increased physical activity to improve circulation.

Throughout his political career, beginning with his 2016 campaign, Trump has consistently made his medical reports public—each declaring him to be in robust and vigorous health.

A frightening incident occurred on Leil Shabbos in Bnei Brak when the sukkah of the Ziditchoiv-Veretsky Rebbe caught fire and was completely destroyed.

The blaze broke out during Kiddush at the Rebbe’s home on Tzirelson Street in the city’s Shikun Hei neighborhood. According to witnesses, several Shabbos candles that had been lit inside the sukkah apparently tipped over, igniting the structure within moments.

Members of the Rebbe’s household immediately called the fire department, but by the time firefighters arrived, the sukkah had already been consumed by the flames.

“It was a great miracle,” said one eyewitness. “The quick thinking of the Rebbe’s son prevented a serious tragedy. Together with other family members, he acted swiftly to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the house.”

No injuries were reported, but the sukkah itself was reduced to ashes. Local residents who heard of the event expressed deep gratitude to Hashem for what they described as a clear act of hashgachah pratis, noting that the timing—just as Kiddush was being made—could easily have resulted in far worse devastation.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said that her Nobel Peace Prize victory is not only a moment of triumph for her nation’s struggle for freedom but also a tribute to President Donald Trump, whose actions she credits with advancing democracy throughout the Americas.

“I dedicated this award to the Venezuelan people and President Trump because I believe that’s absolutely fair,” Machado told The NY Post in an interview. “We, the Venezuelan people, are absolutely grateful to President Trump for the way he has supported democracy and freedom in the Americas.”

Machado spearheaded the national grassroots campaign that defeated Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 election. Despite that resounding loss, Maduro declared himself the winner and has clung to power through violence and intimidation.

Speaking from a hidden location inside Venezuela, Machado — who has been in hiding since the disputed vote — said Trump’s “courage and clarity” played a vital role in isolating and crippling what she described as Maduro’s “narco-terrorist criminal enterprise” that continues to dominate her homeland.

Trump has intensified his campaign against the Maduro regime since returning to office, deploying U.S. naval forces to disrupt drug smuggling operations, reinstating sanctions lifted under the Biden administration, and increasing the bounty for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million — the highest reward in American history.

“From the very beginning, President Trump understood this wasn’t a conventional dictatorship,” Machado said. “He treated it as what it is — a criminal network tied to drug cartels, terrorist groups, and foreign regimes that threaten both the Venezuelan people and the security of the United States.”

Machado described the devastation Maduro’s rule has inflicted on daily life in Venezuela: schools functioning only a few days each week, hospitals with no medicine, elderly citizens surviving on pensions worth less than a dollar a month, and nearly nine out of ten Venezuelans living in poverty.

“This regime has destroyed everything,” she said. “They torture, they kill, they imprison family members just because someone posts about inflation online.”

Even amid that oppression, Machado said the spirit of the Venezuelan people remains unbroken and that millions who fled abroad are ready to return once Maduro is overthrown.

“We are living through a spiritual fight — between good and evil,” she said. “Ninety percent of our people, including the military, want the same thing: freedom, dignity, and our children back home.”

Machado said she hopes that the global attention from her Nobel recognition will focus renewed international pressure on Maduro’s government, continuing the firm stance first led by the Trump administration.

“I was looking forward to thanking him directly,” Machado said, noting that she spoke with Trump earlier in the day. “He’s determined to dismantle the narco-terrorist structure that’s done so much harm to both our peoples.”

She credited Trump for targeting the criminal financial networks propping up Maduro’s power, including drug trafficking, illicit gold trading, and the underground oil market.

“For years we begged the international community to see this as a law enforcement issue,” she said. “President Trump was the first to act. He called them what they are — narco-terrorist organizations — and used the full weight of the law to cut their money flow.”

According to Machado, these measures — combined with U.S. naval patrols and sweeping sanctions — have left Maduro’s regime on the brink.

“Even within the regime, there are fractures and betrayals,” she said. “They know time is over.”

Machado predicted that Maduro’s downfall would spark a wave of democratic change across the region.

“Once Maduro goes, the Cuban regime will follow, and the Nicaraguan regime will follow as well,” she declared. “For the first time in history, we will have the Americas free of communism, dictatorship and narco-terrorism. And that will be President Trump’s legacy.”

She expressed hope that her Nobel win would signal that lasting freedom for Venezuela is within reach.

“This prize belongs to the people of Venezuela, but it also recognizes the vision of a leader who understood that our freedom is tied to the freedom of the entire hemisphere,” she said.

“President Trump gave us hope. And now, finally, we’re turning that hope into history.”

Trump himself is seen as a strong contender for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, having already received several nominations for his diplomatic efforts to end multiple global conflicts during 2025. The deadline for the 2025 prize passed on January 31, only days after Trump returned to office.

{Matzav.com}

Joe Biden is now receiving radiation and hormone treatments in what doctors describe as a new stage of care for the aggressive prostate cancer discovered after he left the White House, his spokesperson confirmed today.

“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” said Biden aide Kelly Scully.

The 82-year-old Democrat stepped down from office in January, months after ending his reelection campaign. His decision followed a widely criticized debate performance against Republican Donald Trump that intensified concerns over Biden’s advanced age, health, and cognitive condition. Trump went on to defeat Democrat Kamala Harris, who had served as Biden’s vice president.

In May, Biden’s post-presidency office disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which had already metastasized to his bones. The diagnosis came after he sought medical attention for urinary complications.

Doctors measure the aggressiveness of prostate cancer using the Gleason scoring system, which ranges from 6 to 10. Scores of 8, 9, or 10 indicate a more dangerous and rapidly advancing form of the disease. Biden’s team revealed that his cancer was graded at 9, identifying it as one of the most severe types.

Just last month, Biden underwent a procedure to remove skin cancer spots from his forehead, his office added.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday morning for a brief but highly symbolic visit, during which he will deliver an address at the Knesset and meet with recently freed hostages before departing about four hours later. His trip is timed to align with the first group of Israeli hostages being released from Hamas captivity under the ceasefire agreement he helped broker.

An Israeli government source confirmed to The Times of Israel that Trump will both speak in the Knesset and meet hostages who were released. The source added that a coordination call between U.S. and Israeli officials took place on Friday, during which Trump’s aides said the trip “would be an in and out” visit.

Channel 12 reported that Trump is scheduled to touch down at Ben Gurion Airport at 9:20 a.m. and depart around 1:00 p.m. Upon landing, a brief welcoming ceremony will take place before he proceeds to the Knesset, where his address to the full plenum is slated for 11:00 a.m.

Before speaking, Trump is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset’s official office. The two will then join relatives of hostages for a meeting in the Chagall Hall, according to the network.

The visit’s timing coincides with the beginning of Simchas Torah on Monday evening, which also marks, according to the Hebrew calendar, the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion and massacre that ignited the ongoing war.

Following his address, Trump will return to Ben Gurion Airport for his flight out of Israel. Later that day, he is expected to co-chair a “peace summit” in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside several world leaders.

An Israeli official said that Trump will not visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv despite being invited by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum to speak there, citing security considerations.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Trump had originally planned to arrive on Sunday, but the visit was delayed by one day because of the logistical hurdles of arranging it so quickly.

Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Hamas had accepted the “first stage” of his proposed peace plan, explaining that he would travel to the Middle East on Sunday and aimed to be in Israel as the first hostages were freed on Monday or Tuesday.

The first phase of the agreement, approved by Israel’s cabinet on Thursday night, calls for an initial withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza. Within 72 hours of that move, Hamas is to release the hostages. In exchange, Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for terrorism-related offenses.

The IDF confirmed that the pullback was completed by noon on Friday, which would mean the hostage releases are anticipated by midday Monday.

Preparations for Trump’s visit began on Thursday, when Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana extended a formal invitation for him to address the Israeli legislature.

This trip marks Trump’s first visit to Israel since resuming the presidency in January. His previous visit occurred in 2017 during his first term, when he made Israel one of the first stops on his inaugural foreign tour.

The upcoming visit has drawn broad acclaim, with both supporters and opponents of Israel’s government praising Trump for his pivotal role in securing the ceasefire and facilitating the hostage exchange agreement.

As of now, terrorist factions in Gaza are still holding 47 of the 251 hostages abducted during Hamas’s bloody October 7 assault. The IDF has verified that at least 26 of those captives are dead. Hamas also retains the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in 2014 and claims that due to battlefield conditions, recovering and returning the bodies of slain hostages will take more than 72 hours.

{Matzav.com}

Project Veritas revealed a major development after its investigation resulted in the capture of two Brazilian nationals accused of plotting to bomb a Chabad Center in Orlando, Florida.

“Following evidence uncovered by Project Veritas, the FBI and Florida police raided the hotel rooms of two illegal immigrants, Janaina Toledo (32) and Leonardo Corona Ramos (42), today,” Project Veritas wrote on social media. “The Brazilian nationals, linked to Tren de Aragua, face charges of underage *** trafficking and planning a terrorist attack on Chabad South Orlando, a Jewish synagogue and school.”

Authorities have confirmed that both suspects are being held in the Orange County, Florida jail. Investigators reportedly believe that the information provided by Project Veritas played a crucial role in stopping what could have been one of the most devastating terror plots in the state’s history.

Degel Hatorah leader MK Moshe Gafni unleashed fierce criticism against his coalition partners on Motzoei Shabbos, as disputes intensified over legislation to exempt all yeshiva students from military service.

“We made four requests of the Prime Minister over the past two years: One – bring back the hostages. Two – end the war. Three – avoid uncoordinated actions with the United States. Four – ensure that Torah scholars can continue their studies. This is the directive we received from our rabbis, and this is the path of Degel Hatorah,” Gafni declared.

Though he refrained from naming specific individuals, Gafni’s comments were clearly directed at National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

“We see now that we were right. Who was right? The one wearing a kippah, ascending the Temple Mount, inciting the entire Muslim world against us—did that help anyone?” he said.

“And the other one, also with a kippah, who, along with his associates, constantly incites against Torah scholars. Had we listened to these irresponsible voices, the hostages wouldn’t have been released—and I’m not even sure they care.”

Continuing his address, Gafni stated, “Despite the judges being against us, the senior officials opposing us, and the media inciting against us—the people are with us. Representatives of Degel Hatorah have come from across the country, and I’ve gone city to city—there is a growing closeness to religion everywhere. The public stands with us.”

In response, sources close to Minister Smotrich fired back sharply: “If Gafni weren’t afraid of losing his grip on the majority of the chareidi public—who are tired of his petty, divisive politicking and his persistent attacks on the religious Zionist community, which sacrifices for Torah, the nation, and the land in sanctity and purity—he wouldn’t need to align himself with Yair Golan and Yair Lapid. His rhetoric spreads hatred and division against religious Zionism, especially during the Sukkos holiday.”

{Matzav.com Israel}