Matzav

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israeli military police arrested a yeshiva bochur at his home in Or Yehuda. The young man, a talmid at Yeshiva Nezer Yisrael in Modiin Illit, was taken into custody at around 1:45 a.m. and transferred to the Mitav detention facility.

Attorney Shlomo Hadad, who is representing the detainee, said the bochur had consistently filed legal deferments over the years, but was only recently classified as a “draft dodger.”

Anger is mounting within the chareidi community over what leaders describe as a wave of targeted arrests. “This is a deliberate hunt for yeshiva students, aimed at creating a climate of extreme enforcement precisely during this sensitive period of debate over the Draft Law,” community representatives warned.

Senior chareidi figures added that carrying out arrests in the middle of the night “is meant to instill fear and generate public pressure.” They cautioned that continuing along this path will only escalate resistance from the Torah leadership and deepen the political crisis.

On Sunday, Matzav.com published comments of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi and mosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, in conversation with Baruch Yitzhakov, a yeshiva student who had just been released from military prison after serving time for desertion. In the recording, Rav Yosef fiercely condemned Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for his remarks about his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l. “Netanyahu is insolent. He said my father was a politician after my father told him he was sorry about the yeshiva boys. How can he disparage like that?” Rav Yosef said.

Turning to the young man, Rav Yosef offered direct guidance: “Get an exemption. Torah is above everything. Do everything you can to be freed from this. But what? Strengthen yourself to grow even stronger in Torah, in diligence.”

The Chief Rabbi also recounted a personal story from his youth, when Knesset member Shulamit Aloni submitted a parliamentary query against him, alleging he had received a salary for teaching at Yeshivat Olam Va’ed despite holding yeshiva student status.

He said that then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan visited his father, who was serving as Chief Rabbi at the time, to ask for clarification. “My father said he would look into it. I got a note from the Vaad Hayeshivos certifying that I was a yeshiva student. Moshe Dayan read it in the Knesset and that was the end of it. If I had been afraid, I would have gone to the army — what would I have become? The Chief Rabbi of the IDF? Chas v’shalom. There is nothing like the Torah.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump announced that he has taken the first steps to arrange direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aimed at finding a resolution to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The announcement came shortly after Trump spoke by phone with Putin on Monday, even as he hosted Zelenskyy alongside top European leaders to advance his push for peace.

“I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump wrote in a social media post following the White House meetings. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Monday’s gathering as a “good meeting” and noted that the planned encounter between Putin and Zelenskyy could happen within two weeks.

It remains uncertain whether Putin has fully agreed to the proposal. The Kremlin did confirm that Trump’s call with Putin took place and lasted about 40 minutes. That discussion came just days after Trump and Putin met in Alaska to talk over the long-running conflict.

According to Russia’s Tass news agency, Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov reported that Trump and Putin “spoke in favor” of continuing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, and even weighed “the idea of raising the level of the direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.”

Trump earlier told Zelenskyy and the European leaders that any ceasefire and the status of territory occupied by Russia should be negotiated directly between Putin and Zelenskyy. That meeting, he added, would take place before a trilateral session with both presidents and himself.

Monday’s White House talks came on the heels of Trump’s summit with Putin at a U.S. base in Alaska, where he leaned toward Moscow’s demands for Kyiv to cede territory. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine.

“We’re going to let the president go over and talk to the president and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said during his discussions with Zelenskyy and the European delegation.

Trump also pledged to back European-led security guarantees for Ukraine, speaking alongside Zelenskyy and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, and Finland, as well as the president of the European Commission and NATO’s secretary-general.

Although Trump stopped short of promising U.S. troops, he indicated that Europe would build a “NATO-like” security structure with American support.

“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump explained. “I think its very important to get the deal done.”

Before the meetings, Russia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed any suggestion of a NATO peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, warning such a step could provoke escalation and “unpredictable consequences,” said spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

The tone of Monday’s session stood in contrast to the tense February encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy, when talks collapsed and U.S. aid was briefly paused after Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for showing insufficient gratitude.

At the outset of this week’s meeting, Zelenskyy presented Trump with a letter from his wife Olena for Melania Trump. In turn, Trump delivered a letter to Putin from the U.S. first lady, urging him to consider the plight of children and end the three-and-a-half-year war.

In February, Zelenskyy was criticized by a conservative journalist for appearing in a long-sleeve T-shirt at the White House. This time, he arrived in a dark suit jacket and buttoned shirt, though he has often said his usual casual attire is meant as solidarity with Ukrainian troops.

Trump’s new initiative followed his Friday meeting with Putin, after which he said the responsibility now lies with Zelenskyy to agree to land concessions that could bring the conflict to an end.

“We’ll see in a certain period of time, not very far from now, a week or two weeks, we’re going to know whether or not we’re going to solve this or is this horrible fighting going to continue,” Trump said.

European leaders, excluded from Trump’s summit with Putin, came to Washington determined to defend Ukraine’s interests and prevent further Russian aggression.

Ahead of Monday’s gathering, Trump cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to ever reclaim Crimea, taken by Russia in 2014.

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump posted Sunday night. “Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”

Zelenskyy countered hours later, writing, “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.” He stressed that “peace must be lasting,” not like the temporary calm after Crimea and Donbas were seized years ago, which “Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack.”

Although Putin remains firmly against Ukraine joining NATO, Trump’s advisers say the Russian president may be open to Western powers providing defensive assurances for Kyiv.

European leaders floated the idea of a temporary truce, though Trump, after his meeting with Putin, backed away from demanding an immediate ceasefire and instead called for a comprehensive peace agreement — a shift welcomed by Moscow.

At the start of Monday’s session, German and French leaders praised Trump’s push for peace but pressed him to extract a ceasefire from Russia.

“I would like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting,” Merz said.

Trump responded by saying a permanent settlement is “very attainable,” while noting that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.”

Also at the table were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The Europeans remain eager for concrete answers on how the U.S. will participate in a future security structure for Ukraine.

Still, Rutte praised Trump’s willingness to provide guarantees, calling it “a big step, a breakthrough.”

Zelenskyy spelled out his nation’s security needs, emphasizing a “strong Ukrainian army” through weapons and training, and additional measures dependent on commitments from NATO, the EU, and the U.S.

Trump had already debriefed Zelenskyy and his allies following his Friday talks with Putin, though details trickled out slowly, frustrating some officials.

European diplomats later confirmed that Trump relayed Putin’s insistence on claiming the entire Donbas region, even though Ukraine continues to hold significant portions of the territory.

{Matzav.com}

A close aide to the Hamas leadership shared additional insights into the outline of a potential hostage release deal that is currently taking shape.

According to the advisor, formal talks aimed at securing a broader agreement are expected to commence as soon as a ceasefire is implemented.

He declared that “Hamas fulfilled its obligations to the Palestinian people with the effort to end the war, despite the Israeli foot-dragging, and managed to prove that it is not the side that shot down the deal.”

The advisor appealed to the mediators involved to increase pressure on Israel to accept the arrangement, pointing out that Israel has yet to present new conditions and that every option is still under consideration.

He further maintained that the United States has taken on the role of guarantor for the deal, while clarifying that the terms do not require Hamas to surrender its weapons.

In addition, senior Hamas figure Taher al-Nunu characterized the current proposal as a “midpoint” between Hamas’s position and that of Israel in recent discussions, noting that the U.S. has guaranteed the agreement’s enforcement.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday leveled strong criticism at Israel, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government of pushing the country into further isolation after it revoked visas for Australian envoys assigned to the Palestinian Authority.

The action followed Canberra’s refusal to grant entry to right-wing Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman as well as former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. The visa rejections came just after Australia revealed its plans to move ahead with official recognition of a Palestinian state next month.

Senator Wong denounced Israel’s move as “an unjustified reaction” and argued, “At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution.”

On Monday, Australia barred Rothman a day before he was slated to appear at programs with the Jewish community. Interior Minister Tony Burke explained the decision, saying, “If you come here to spread hatred and division, we do not want you.” He noted that Rothman may reapply for entry after three years and emphasized the government’s commitment to keeping Australia a place where every individual feels secure.

The denials have ignited debate within Australia, where opponents of the move accused the governing Labor Party of taking a softer approach toward Hamas sympathizers while blocking an Israeli parliament member. Authorities pointed to Rothman’s outspoken rejection of a Palestinian state, his calls to impose Israeli sovereignty across the West Bank, and his declaration that “Hamas must be destroyed” as grounds that his presence might provoke unrest among Australia’s Muslim population.

Other Israelis have faced similar treatment. Both Shaked and Israeli-American activist Hillel Fuld were denied entry in recent weeks. Shaked explained that her visit was to take part in a policy forum hosted by AIJAC but that she was refused entry “simply because of my opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian terror state.” She called the ruling “clear evidence of bias and hostility toward Israel.”

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that his government would seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Israel’s ambassador in Canberra, Amir Maimon, said the decision was taken under mounting international pressure, aligning Australia with countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Senator Wong reiterated that Australia remains committed to working alongside global partners to promote a two-state outcome, to advance a ceasefire in Gaza, and to press for the release of hostages. “Australia welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other’s humanity and right to live in peace,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

At a confidential session of the Supreme Court reviewing a petition against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s move to block Red Cross representatives from visiting incarcerated Nukhba Force terrorists, the judges delivered sharp criticism of the government’s stance.

Supreme Court President Yitzchok Amit remarked during the proceedings: “At the moment, what’s being seen in the world is that Israel’s prisons are Guantanamo. This is what is being reported to the world: there is starvation, dozens of prisoners are dying; literally the Israeli Guantanamo, and you’re putting us, the court, in the forefront.”

Justice Dafna Barak-Erez voiced further concerns, saying: “The families of terrorists don’t know that they’re in prison, they are ‘prisoner X.’ Indeed, they did terrible things, but to not know that they are in Israel? Even in the most difficult times, there weren’t such things. Habeas corpus demands the release of information, and [Israel] always followed this. Suddenly, no information is being released.”

Later in the hearing, Justice Barak-Erez turned to the head of the Israel Prisons Service Intelligence Directorate and pressed him with a pointed question: “Is your organization so weak that it can’t deal with just one American Red Cross representative?”

In response, the Intelligence Directorate explained: “The terrorists in the prisons are talking about this hearing and are hoping that you allow the Red Cross to visit them.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Sacred and rare. A halachic ruling concerning inheritance and the appointment of guardians for orphans, issued in the Beis Din of the renowned gaon, “the father of hora’ah  upon whom all of Klal Yisrael relies”, Rabbi Yosef Teumim, author of Pri Megadim, signed with his holy handwritten signature.

Former minister Meir Porush addressed the political turmoil surrounding the failure to pass the draft law for bnei yeshivos, insisting that when his own actions are judged, “if I stand before the Heavenly Court, I have what to answer.” At the same time, he placed part of the responsibility on other chareidi politicians, noting that “not always can a public official do everything he thinks should be done, because it has very broad consequences.”

Porush’s comments came during a conversation at his protest tent outside the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Yerushalayim, where he has set up a makeshift office.

When asked directly whether he believed the chareidi politicians had failed in advancing the draft law, Porush responded: “First of all, it’s not a draft law, it’s a law to regulate the status of yeshiva students. As for myself, if I stand before the Heavenly Court, I have what to answer about what I did and what I thought should be done. A public official cannot always act exactly as he wants because it has very wide implications. But if it had been handled differently, maybe we would be in another place today.”

The veteran politician also referred to the arrests of yeshiva students for learning Torah: “Now is not the time to argue about what was, how it was, who’s at fault, and what was done. My hope is that now, if we all stand together in the difficult battle before us, then even though in human terms I don’t see how this is resolved, if we show resolve, do not surrender, and certainly do not blink, perhaps something good will emerge.”

Porush was then asked if the rift between the chareidi public and the state has ever been this deep. He answered: “I don’t remember that chareidi Jewry, in the 77 years since the state was founded, has ever endured such a blow, such a crisis, regarding life itself and our way of life. We’ve never had anything like this.”

Addressing why the chareidim continue to align themselves with the right-wing bloc, Porush explained: “If you measure it by our absolute alliance with the right, understand that we lived 25 years in the opposition with the left because we could not get close to them. Only when Likud came along did Gedolei Yisroel agree to form a coalition.”

He added: “You need to know that on the left there are all sorts of wicked people that we are ashamed to stand next to. Their agenda from the outset includes public Shabbos desecration and other matters forbidden by the Torah. So I am not seeking connections with them. But I will say I am very disappointed there is no law regulating the status of yeshiva students. Let’s hope that perhaps now we can bring this to a positive conclusion.”

Just a week and a half ago, Porush, who is the chairman of Shlomei Emunim, gave a fiery interview from his protest encampment outside the Attorney General’s office in Yerushalayim, where he announced a hunger strike.

“I’m not entering into an argument with her,” Porush said of Baharav-Miara. “She says there should be 35% of the chareidi public serving in the army. That’s her judgment. Out of the 84,000 who received draft notices, how many showed up? Not one. That means they want a fight with the chareidi public. Let the attorney general admit that she erred in her judgment.”

Porush went on to argue: “There’s no law automatically exempting Arabs, yet the draft office doesn’t call them up. Why doesn’t she use her authority there?”

He then issued a warning about what could happen if yeshiva students continue to be arrested: “You are talking about tens of thousands of believers for whom Torah is life itself. I don’t see any state that can cope with hundreds of thousands of citizens who are devoted to a way of life and the state tries to crush them. The state will collapse, it will become dysfunctional, and people will not be able to live this way. You cannot go to war with a million and a quarter chareidi citizens who want to live a certain lifestyle. It’s impossible.”

Porush cautioned that the crisis could spiral out of control: “This will develop and swell, and no one will be able to stop it. Maybe now something can still be done, but later? It will be too late. The message will be clear: people will begin to be afraid. No one will be able to take responsibility for what might happen when fathers see their sons being arrested. You can’t predict what will happen here. You saw how the Kaplan protesters could disrupt when they wanted to. Here too, we could disrupt.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday over his push to eliminate mail-in voting in U.S. elections.

“Two facts: Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, and vote by mail is safe, secure, and reliable,” Schumer said in a statement. “Let’s be clear — this is not based in fact or reality, but it is yet another way for Trump to silence Americans from using their voice in the democratic process and implement Jim Crow laws across America.”

Schumer added that “Senate Democrats will make sure that any and every measure that would make it even more difficult for Americans to vote will be dead on arrival in the Senate and will continue to fight to protect our democracy.”

Earlier in the day, Trump declared that he intends to “lead a movement” to abolish mail-in ballots and issue an executive order “to help bring honesty” to the upcoming midterm elections, acknowledging that his efforts “will be strongly opposed by Democrats.”

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender and ‘WOKE’ for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM.”

Trump also argued that other nations have abandoned mail-in voting because of what he called “massive voter fraud.” He added that states should follow the president’s example “for the good of the country.”

{Matzav.com}

Former Israel Sefardic Chief Rabbi and nosi of Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, held a meeting on Monday with Baruch Yitzchakov, a yeshiva bochur who was recently released from military prison after refusing IDF service.

During the conversation, Rav Yosef sharply criticized Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu for past remarks about his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l. “Netanyahu is chutzpadik. He said my father was a politician after my father told him he was sorry about the plight of the yeshiva bochurim. How can he belittle him like that?” Rav Yosef asked.

Turning to Yitzchakov directly, the Chief Rabbi gave him clear guidance. “Get a deferment. Torah is above everything. Do everything you can to be freed from this, but at the same time, strengthen yourself to become greater in Torah, with more diligence.”

Rav Yosef also recalled a personal incident from his own youth, when a Knesset query was submitted by Shulamit Aloni over his receiving a teaching stipend at Yeshivas Olam Va’ed despite his student status.

He described how then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan came to his father, who was serving as Chief Rabbi at the time, seeking clarification. “My father said he would look into it. I took a paper from the Vaad Hayeshivos confirming that I was a yeshiva student, and Moshe Dayan read it aloud in the Knesset. That was the end of it. If I had been afraid, I would have gone to the army. What would I have become? The Chief Rabbi of the IDF? Chas v’shalom. There is nothing like Torah.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

China declared on Monday that it is prepared to make every possible effort to achieve a peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan, according to a statement from its foreign ministry. The remarks came in response to comments made by President Donald Trump during a recent interview.

In an interview with Fox News on Friday, Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him in a phone call that China would not move against Taiwan while Trump is in office.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a regular press conference that China would not permit “anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from China in any way.”

{Matzav.com}

The Saudi-based channel al-Hadath reported Monday evening that Israeli military operations in Gaza are pressing forward despite the ongoing talks with Hamas.

According to their coverage, Israeli tanks have been moving toward the Sabara district of Gaza City, advancing under the protection of air support.

Meanwhile, Hamas’s so-called “Ministry of Health” issued a statement to Arab outlets alleging that 20 Palestinians had been killed in the Gaza Strip since midnight.

Israel’s determination to secure full control of Gaza City was cited as the reason Hamas gave a favorable reply to the proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators for a partial agreement on hostages.

Earlier in the day, President Trump expressed his backing for Israel’s strategy, stating that “we will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli official clarified this evening, after reports surfaced that Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire framework, that Israel’s stance regarding the release of all hostages has not shifted.

According to details of the arrangement Hamas is said to have accepted, the group would hand over 10 living hostages along with the remains of 18 murdered hostages. In exchange, Israel would free 140 terrorists serving life terms and another 60 prisoners serving lengthy sentences of 15 years or more.

If this outline is correct, it would mean that 10 of the captives would still remain in Gaza under Hamas’s control.

The Israeli source emphasized that Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict have not been altered, stressing that all 50 hostages still held in Gaza must be released as part of any agreement.

Reports from Arab media indicate that the proposal also calls for the IDF to pull back as far as one kilometer in northern and eastern sections of Gaza, though not from Al-Shujaiya or Beit Lahia. Adjustments to the positioning of Israeli forces in those areas would also take place. Additionally, the plan allows for a large-scale entry of humanitarian supplies once the deal goes into effect, consistent with the January 19 agreement. The assistance package would include fuel, water, electricity, medical and bakery equipment, and machinery for clearing rubble.

Further details note that the distribution of aid would be managed by the UN and its affiliates, the Red Crescent, and other international organizations. The Rafah border crossing would reopen in both directions under prior terms. Moreover, the arrangement specifies that for each Israeli hostage’s body returned, the remains of 10 terrorists would be transferred to the Palestinian side.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

It started with a phone call.

In January 2022, a young bochur in shidduchim reached out. He wasn’t looking for a shadchan—he already had suggestions. What he didn’t have was clarity.

Where should he take a girl for a first date? How should the evening be planned so it’s appropriate yet pleasant? How do you avoid the awkwardness of not knowing what’s expected?

That one call turned into dozens. Then hundreds.

It quickly became clear: the practical side of dating was being overlooked.

So, we launched the Dating Resources Network—a simple hotline where bochurim could get hadrachah for planning dates, advice on what’s appropriate, and help thinking through the details. Today, that hotline supports and coaches bochurim through more than 4,000 dates every single year—offering guidance, reassurance, and practical direction at a stage when many feel lost.

But the calls also revealed another challenge. Sometimes, a bochur knew exactly where he wanted to go—he just didn’t have the tools to make the date run smoothly. A Waze device for navigation, an umbrella for a rainy night, a board game for a relaxed activity—small things that can make a big difference.

We began stocking a few shelves and boxes with these items. Today, those shelves have grown into 16 dating gemach locations across the country, accessed over 20,000 times a year.

But then, a deeper issue emerged.

Parents began to reach out. Shadchanim quietly shared that promising suggestions weren’t moving forward. The reason? Money.

By the time you factor in a car rental, tolls, gas, and parking, a first date can easily cost over $165. And that’s before you calculate the costs of activities and dining on later dates. Multiply that across several dates, and for many families—especially those already managing tight budgets—the expense was simply out of reach. Dates were being improperly planned, others were too busy calculating costs to properly focus on the actual date, and yet others were simply not giving yeses at all.

That’s when we launched our Financial Aid Program—a discreet, dignified way to ensure that no one is held back from building a future because of money. Every application is carefully reviewed by rabbanim, and once approved, the bochur receives direct support to cover his dating expenses. To ensure every penny is well spent, we set clear maximum reimbursement amounts—no open checks.

In just the past year, over $240,000 has been distributed—quietly enabling hundreds of young men to date without shame or hesitation. And remarkably, the entire initiative is 100% volunteer-run. We have no payroll, no salaries—every dollar donated goes directly to helping bochurim move forward.

It’s quiet work. No headlines. No fanfare. But week after week, more couples begin their journey that might never have happened without a small amount of guidance—and a little bit of help.

Partner with us today in writing the future of Klal Yisrael one date at a time. 

CLICK HERE to Donate Now

Israel’s National Digital Agency announced on Monday that it had uncovered a sweeping international cyberattack named ShadowCaptcha, which exploits trusted security features to distribute malicious software. The campaign, which has already impacted hundreds of websites worldwide—including in Israel—specifically targets WordPress-based platforms, converting them into infection hubs that spread harmful programs capable of stealing personal information, hijacking computers to mine cryptocurrency, or locking data for ransom.

What sets ShadowCaptcha apart is its deceptive misuse of user trust. Hackers insert malicious code into compromised websites that redirects visitors to counterfeit CAPTCHA verification pages mimicking the well-known “I’m not a robot” system. Instead of clicking a box or selecting images, users are asked to perform innocent-looking steps such as pasting text or entering a command. These actions, however, secretly trigger malware that installs damaging software on their systems.

“Everyone knows the CAPTCHA mechanism, but here the fake version asks users to perform actions outside the browser, such as opening a search bar on the computer and copying a command displayed in the browser window. That command actually installs the malware. A genuine CAPTCHA never harms a computer, as long as the action takes place within the browser,” explained Nir Bar Yosef, head of the government’s cyber defense unit, in an interview with Ynet.

The campaign’s global reach is evident in recent reports from international cybersecurity experts and law enforcement bodies. Both Europol and U.S. agencies have carried out actions against cybercriminal organizations using similar strategies. In one major crackdown known as Operation Endgame, investigators shut down servers and hundreds of infected websites distributing malware, highlighting a repeating trend of cybercriminals exploiting legitimate online infrastructure.

The method of disguising malware within familiar security tools is part of the broader cat-and-mouse battle between hackers and defenders. It joins a growing list of schemes such as counterfeit payment systems and falsified invoices, all crafted to conceal malicious activity from unsuspecting victims.

According to Israel’s National Digital Agency, ShadowCaptcha’s malware gives criminals broad capabilities, including complete remote access to infected devices, theft of sensitive files, unauthorized cryptocurrency mining, and encrypting computers for ransom demands.

Authorities confirmed that no government networks in Israel have been compromised so far, but they suspect the true number of hacked websites is far higher than the few hundred identified to date. The agency is cooperating with the National Cyber Directorate to notify affected sites and help secure them. In addition, malware fingerprints have been shared with Google and Microsoft so they can update their browsers, antivirus programs, and operating systems to block the threat.

Investigators have not yet determined the perpetrators, though officials believe it is likely the work of financially motivated criminal groups rather than a state-sponsored campaign. The malware infrastructure aligns with tools typically used by cybercrime syndicates, making it difficult to trace the culprits.

Officials urged website administrators to update their WordPress installations and plugins regularly while closely following cybersecurity guidelines. End users were also cautioned to complete CAPTCHA checks only within their browsers and to treat any prompts to execute commands or take actions outside the browser as suspicious and potentially dangerous.

{Matzav.com}

An operational forum took place Monday under the leadership of IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir, bringing together the military’s top brass. The gathering was hosted at the Gaza Division headquarters and concentrated on reviewing the outcomes and lessons learned from Operation “Rising Lion” and Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” while also discussing preparations for the next stage of the campaign.

Senior commanders from across the IDF presented evaluations of their respective theaters, branches, and directorates. Alongside these assessments, an overview of the broader operational and intelligence picture was shared, along with the IDF’s updated course of action moving forward.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz joined the conference, delivering remarks of their own. They listened to the briefings provided and voiced appreciation for the army’s ongoing efforts in the war.

As the meeting concluded, LTG Zamir addressed the commanders directly, outlining instructions for the coming phase of operations, stressing in particular the need to intensify strikes on Hamas targets within Gaza City.

Speaking at the forum, Zamir declared: “We are in the midst of a multi-front, ongoing, and unprecedented campaign. We are at a turning point in the war, approaching the next phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ with its focus on enhancing the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City. The purpose of this conference is to learn and conduct dialogue in order to strengthen our unified approach and draw lessons for the continuation of the campaign. Operation ‘Rising Lion’ was a historic operation that proved that the unimaginable could be achieved. Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ is an operation with many achievements, which shaped the reality in Gaza, dealt Hamas a decisive blow in the areas where we operated, built the foundation for the next steps, and strengthened the security of the communities in the south.”

He continued: “We are preparing and approving plans. You must prepare all formations for the continuation of operational developments. We will act with full determination and professionalism, just as we have done until now. We will continue to operate and create the conditions for the release of our hostages – we will make every decision with responsibility and great seriousness.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz took part today in a high-level IDF command gathering at the Gaza Division, alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. During the meeting, he declared that taking control of Gaza City is the decisive step needed to bring down Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

In his remarks, Katz highlighted the city’s central role. “The focus on Gaza City stems from its status as a military, governmental, and symbolic center. That is where the leadership is located and where the main infrastructure of Hamas’s military wing remains. The capture of Gaza City will bring about Hamas’s defeat.”

He went on to explain that Gaza City has become even more critical as the war has progressed. “For the first time, after weeks in which Hamas was unwilling to discuss any deal for the release of hostages—even though Turkey and Qatar had reached out to them—this issue is now on the table. The reason is clear: their fear that we are seriously intending to conquer Gaza has brought them to the negotiating table.”

Katz further noted that the government’s policies under Netanyahu are designed to balance both combat and diplomacy. “The military effort you, the IDF, are leading aims to achieve the war objectives in conjunction with the diplomatic measures currently being advanced with the U.S. and regional countries. These efforts feed into each other. The decision is not only security-related; it is also political, so that as a result of the military operations, there will be tremendous leverage that we hope, with U.S. backing, will create pressure.”

Wrapping up his address, the Defense Minister stressed that the preparations for eliminating Hamas serve a dual purpose—both military and diplomatic. “We are in favor of ending the war under these conditions, and the only way this may happen or advance is through the strength you have displayed—the strength you are preparing, planning, and that we will all execute together—and this strength can also bring about that outcome.”

His comments came just as Arabic outlets reported that Hamas had given a positive reply to the latest ceasefire proposal.

According to those reports, the deal involves freeing ten Israeli hostages who are alive, returning the bodies of 18 more, opening channels for humanitarian assistance to Gaza through international organizations such as the Red Crescent and the UN, and putting in place a 60-day ceasefire. Talks about permanently halting the conflict are slated to begin once the truce is underway.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The BBC acknowledged on Monday, after mounting criticism, that a woman from Gaza it had reported as having died of starvation was in fact battling leukemia. The outlet has since corrected its report.

Over the weekend, international news outlets circulated reports that 20-year-old Marah Salah Mahmoud Zohry, also known as Marah Abu Zuhri, had succumbed to malnutrition at an Italian hospital where she was treated after being evacuated from Gaza.

The BBC followed with a tweet declaring that Zohry “died of malnutrition,” and initially published its report under that same headline.

On Sunday, however, Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a statement clarifying that Zohry had been suffering from a severe case of leukemia. COGAT also released a medical file from the Nasser Hospital Cancer Center Outpatient Clinic in Gaza.

That document noted that Zohry’s test results were “in keeping with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).” Medical experts say that untreated, APL typically has a life expectancy of less than one month.

Following this revelation, Mike Huckabee, U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, sharply criticized the BBC, urging the broadcaster to “retract the story and apologize.”

By Monday, the BBC issued a statement conceding that it was “not initially aware that Zohry was being treated for leukemia.”

“In line with usual editorial practice, we added this to the story… after Israeli authorities put the information into the public domain. We have amended the original headline and tweet and added an explanatory note.”

The updated article now includes the clarification: “This article’s headline originally said that Marah Abu Zuhri died of malnutrition, with the introduction stating that she suffered a cardiac arrest and died on Friday. The headline has been amended to remove the reference to malnutrition being the cause of death in what the hospital described as a ‘very complex clinical picture.”

Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney-general, told The Daily Telegraph, “The BBC’s anti-Israel reporting is an international embarrassment.”

Lord Austin, who serves as the UK Government’s trade envoy to Israel, also criticized the broadcaster, telling The Daily Telegraph that BBC director-general Tim Davie should resign if he “can’t get his house in order.”

“Time and again, the BBC is being caught out peddling misinformation and unfounded anti-Israel rhetoric. Once the world’s greatest broadcaster, now known for dishonesty and bias, it’s little wonder that the BBC has become the source of international derision,” he remarked.

The controversy follows a similar case last month when The New York Times was compelled to revise a report about a child it claimed was wasting away from hunger. The boy was later revealed to have a longstanding medical condition that affected his appearance.

In its correction, the NYT admitted, “We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated [Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq] and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his preexisting health problems.”

The BBC, which also carried that story, had labeled the boy a “starving baby” without noting that medical documents from May 2025, issued by the Basma Association for Relief in Gaza, confirmed he was actually suffering from cerebral palsy and hypoxemia.

{Matzav.com}

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump both voiced optimism on Monday that pivotal White House discussions with Ukrainian and European leaders could pave the way for three-way negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The emergency meeting followed Trump’s recent encounter with Putin, after which he said the responsibility now falls on Zelenskyy to make certain compromises that could conclude the fighting.

Several senior European leaders, who had been excluded from Friday’s summit, also gathered with Trump, determined to protect both Ukraine and Europe from potential escalation by Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked that he would “like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting” with the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.

Like other European heads of state, Merz praised Trump’s role in steering the diplomatic process forward.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Trump that his readiness to consider security guarantees for Ukraine was a “breakthrough” and that it “makes all the difference.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged cooperation to achieve “a just and lasting peace,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the gathering as “an important day and new phase.”

During a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy earlier in the day, Trump insisted that a ceasefire was “unnecessary.” However, after conferring with EU leaders and Zelenskyy behind closed doors, he later told reporters in the East Room that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.”

Trump noted that he supports a ceasefire because it would “immediately stop the killing,” but he emphasized again that a long-term peace between Russia and Ukraine is “very attainable” now.

Seated cheerfully in the East Room, Trump acknowledged each of the European dignitaries.

He referred to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “my friend,” said he liked French President Emmanuel Macron “from day one,” described Merz as “very strong,” and joked, “I want to get a tan like that.” He also quipped to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, “you look better than I’ve ever seen you look.”

Trump launched the wider session with Zelenskyy and the European leaders by introducing a new phrase, saying the group’s aim is to “see if we can get it finished” and “put this to sleep.”

In a display of unity, Trump and the leaders posed inside the White House, Macron on one side and Zelenskyy on the other.

While assembled, Trump gestured at a painting showing him raising his fist after surviving last year’s assassination attempt, commenting: “That was not a good day. Not a great day. See the picture?”

At the United Nations, Russia’s deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told journalists that “what everybody hopes” is that Trump’s consultations with Ukraine and European leaders “will go in the same vein” as his recent Alaska summit with Putin.

He said Trump acknowledged that his conversation with Putin had created “an opportunity for a long and lasting peace.”

“And we welcome very much such a scenario,” Polyansky added, stressing that Russia expects Ukraine’s leadership to focus on “their people who don’t want to fight and who are ready for peace — fair, just and long-lasting peace. That’s what Russia is trying to achieve in Ukraine for many, many years.”

After opening remarks and a press Q&A inside the Oval Office, the leaders moved to private discussions.

A formal photo of Trump, Zelenskyy, and their European counterparts was scheduled before the larger East Room meeting to chart a strategy for ending the conflict.

Though Trump and Zelenskyy had last met only months ago in February, Monday’s session reflected a dramatically different mood.

Back then, tensions ran high as Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” and cautioned against expecting continued U.S. backing. The exchanges were marked by interruptions and visible disagreements.

This time, both leaders struck a friendlier tone, with smiles and gestures of agreement. They kept their hands folded, answering questions amicably while showing more alignment on certain issues.

The centerpiece of Monday’s talks was the question of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential peace settlement. Zelenskyy laid out what he believed his country needed, starting with a “strong Ukrainian army” supported by weapons sales and training. He added that much would depend on the guarantees offered by NATO, EU countries, and the United States.

Trump did not commit U.S. troops but indicated support for a “NATO-like” security arrangement, saying the details would be worked out with European leaders later in the day.

“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.”

Unlike the February encounter, Vice President Vance stayed quiet during the public portion of the meeting. Sitting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he watched as Trump and Zelenskyy addressed reporters.

In February, Vance had lashed out at Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” for publicly disagreeing with Trump, leading to a heated exchange and warnings about reduced American support.

During Monday’s event, Trump told reporters that Putin was “expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting” with Zelenskyy and the European leaders.

Trump and Putin had met in Alaska on Friday to discuss possible steps toward ending the war.

As Zelenskyy fielded a question on holding elections during wartime, Trump jokingly speculated on how such a scenario could impact U.S. politics.

“So let me just say three and a half years from now — so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections, oh, I wonder what the fake news would say,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy responded by highlighting that a “truce” would be necessary to conduct safe and legitimate elections in Ukraine.

“We can do security,” Zelenskyy said. “We need … a truce, yes, everywhere — the battlefield, the sky and the sea, to make it possible for people to do democratic open legal elections.”

Security assurances remain central to Zelenskyy’s conditions for ending the war.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, also mentioned NATO-style commitments for Ukraine during Sunday television appearances.

“It’s on the meeting agenda,” Trump confirmed. He reiterated that European leaders are eager to provide Ukraine with protection, and that the U.S. intends to play a role.

{Matzav.com}

Beitar Illit’s mayor, Meir Rubinstein, pressed Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Sunday to settle the long-standing conflict surrounding the draft of chareidim.

Speaking during a meeting of municipal leaders from Judea and Samaria with Netanyahu, Rubinstein invoked a posuk from Tehillim, quoting Dovid Hamelech’s words: “Sur meira v’asei tov – Depart from evil and do good (Tehillim 34:15).”

Rubinstein explained, “Turning away from evil – you have already done and continue to do, with great success, against Hezbollah in the north and against Iran. Now the time has come for ‘do good,’” he told Netanyahu.

He went on to clarify, “This means applying sovereignty, which will aid in the development and expansion of the Holy Land – and also resolving the crisis with the chareidi public by recognizing the importance of Torah study and Torah learners, and putting an end to the Draft Law saga.”

Rubinstein also turned to another posuk from Tehillim, citing 37:3: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and be nourished by faith.”

He explained, “‘Dwell in the land’ – apply sovereignty over all of the Land of Israel. ‘Be nourished by faith’ – in regard to the value of Torah study.”

As he wrapped up his remarks, Rubinstein offered Netanyahu words of encouragement, wishing him strength “in standing firm against the ‘anyone but Netanyahu’ parties, who are a minority in the nation and act equally against the chareidi public and against Jewish settlers in Israel.”

Rubinstein concluded by inviting Netanyahu to attend the dedication ceremony for Beitar’s Givah C neighborhood, pointing out that Netanyahu had been present for the laying of its cornerstone. Netanyahu warmly accepted the invitation.

{Matzav.com Israel}