Matzav

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had recovered the bodies of three hostages from Gaza.

The hostages were identified as Yonatan Samerano, Shay Levinson, and Ofra Keidar. All three had been held by Hamas since the deadly onslaught of October 7, and their deaths were confirmed by the IDF.

Ofra Keidar, age 71, was killed alongside her husband, Sami, during the Hamas massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri. Her body was abducted and taken into Gaza. She was a mother of three. In December 2023, the military officially confirmed her death.

Keidar had been one of only two known female hostages still held by Hamas at the time. The other, Inbar Haiman, also died in captivity, a fact her family confirmed in December 2023.

Yonatan Samerano, 21, had been attending the Nova Music Festival near Re’im when the attacks unfolded. He escaped toward Kibbutz Be’eri, where he was killed and subsequently taken into Gaza by Hamas gunmen.

Shay Levinson served as a tank commander in the IDF’s 77th “Oz” Battalion, part of the 7th Armored Brigade. Although he was killed during the Hamas incursion on October 7, the military was only able to confirm his death in January 2024.

Reports indicate that Levinson was stationed in a tank unit that came under attack during Hamas’s early-morning infiltration that day. Before his crew was overrun, they managed to fire multiple shells and eliminate roughly 15 terrorists.

In a formal statement, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu extended condolences to the bereaved families and expressed gratitude to those involved in the mission.

“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the dear families and share in their profound sorrow,” he said.

“I thank our commanders and soldiers for a successful operation, for their determination, and their courage,” Netanyahu added.

He reaffirmed Israel’s ongoing efforts to secure the return of all hostages. “The campaign to return the hostages continues without pause and is being carried out alongside the campaign against Iran.”

“We will not rest until all our hostages—both the living and the fallen—are brought home,” Netanyahu concluded.

Later that day, the military reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had commended the forces involved in the recovery operation, which is taking place alongside the broader Operation Rising Lion.

He noted that “the IDF shares in the sorrow of the bereaved families and will continue to operate utilizing all available efforts to bring the hostages home.”

{Matzav.com}

Bill O’Reilly joins Leland Vittert on NewsNation to discuss the U.S. striking Iran nuclear facilities, and react to President Trump’s statement.

WATCH:

‘Special Report’ executive editor Bret Baier analyzes the impact of the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites on ‘Hannity.’

WATCH:

[COMMUNICATED]

At this very moment, Hatzalah Israel volunteers are responding to emergencies under fire, without enough supplies to keep themselves — or others — safe.

There is no time to waste.

Since the night of June 13 — when Iran launched a direct attack on Israel — Hatzalah volunteers have been operating around the clock. Their courage hasn’t wavered, but their equipment is running dangerously low.

They urgently need protective gear, trauma kits, and life-saving medical tools. Without them, every response carries greater risk.

Some are already going out with just the bare minimum — and still, they go.

This is not sustainable. And it’s not acceptable.

Hatzalah Israel has launched an Emergency Campaign to restock and rearm its volunteers so they can continue saving lives with speed and safety.

• $100 → trauma kit

• $250 → helmet + protective vest

• $500 → full responder gear

• $1,000+ → complete emergency medical pack

www.charidy.com/HatzalahIL25

We can’t slow down their response — not now. Not when every second counts.

This is about saving lives. Let’s give them what they need to keep doing it.

Fox News host Sean Hannity revealed that he had a conversation with President Donald Trump, during which Trump disclosed that the United States deployed six bunker-buster bombs in an assault on Iran’s deeply buried nuclear complex in Fordo.

Prior to this, defense analysts had believed that a pair of bunker-busting munitions would be sufficient to neutralize the heavily fortified facility.

According to Hannity, American submarines positioned roughly 400 miles from their targets fired a total of 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, striking Iran’s Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.

Israel, for its part, reported that its initial strike on June 13 caused extensive destruction at the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant.

WATCH:

An Iranian state TV analyst issued a chilling message in the aftermath of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that American civilians and military personnel in the region had become “legitimate threat[s],” according to Arab affairs journalist Roi Kais.

The Iranian network, IRIB, broadcasted imagery showing the locations of U.S. military installations across the Middle East. During the segment, the anchor issued a pointed threat to President Donald Trump: “You started it, and we’ll finish it.”

President Trump revealed late last night that the United States had carried out precision airstrikes targeting three key nuclear installations in Iran — the Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan sites.

Trump was the first to publicly confirm the operation.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump stated in a message posted on social media.

“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

{Matzav.com}

In response to the ongoing war in Eretz Yisroel, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashbi, released a heartfelt and urgent letter of chizuk directed to bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. In it, he underscores the importance of spiritual introspection, the power of Torah, and the proper conduct during these trying times. The letter also includes a special segulah, transmitted from the Chofetz Chaim, for use in times of distress.

The rosh yeshiva begins with a stirring call to Klal Yisroel: “Ana achim, stand up and awaken, and let us cry out to Hashem with strength, over the blood of our brethren that has been spilled like water in recent days, and for those still suffering in captivity and torment at the hands of cruel enemies. We were recently granted a moment of reprieve, through the kindness of Hashem, spared from the sword, from disease, and from harsh decrees. We have witnessed open miracles — all in the merit of those who learn and toil in Torah.”

He continues with a sobering reminder: “Yet due to our many sins, the pasuk comes true for us, ‘As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; and he came home, leaned on the wall, and a snake bit him’ (Amos 5:19). We have not yet returned from our mistaken ways. We fail to recognize that it is due to our own sins that we are faced with such a fierce war.”

Rav Bergman emphasizes that though the hashgachah is hidden, Hashem’s yad is still apparent. “In every generation, they rise against us to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands. But the central thing that Hashem asks of us is to return to Him sincerely — to reflect on our actions, engage in soul-searching, and accept mussar. This is the time when we must strengthen ourselves in the toil of Torah with purity of thought. This is the greatest protection for Klal Yisroel: ‘If war arises against me, in this I trust.’ Therefore, one must be careful not to become overly preoccupied with war stories that distract the heart from what matters most.”

He urges each individual to examine their behavior bein adam lachaveiro, emphasizing the need for peace and menuchas hanefesh in one’s home: “Each person should now pay close attention to matters between man and his fellow — which are among the gravest obligations. ‘With the measure that a person measures, it is measured to him.’ Our conduct with family should be calm and composed, filled with words of emunah and bitachon that soothe the heart and inspire the listener. Let us repeat and internalize the words of Dovid Hamelech, ‘Even though I walk… I will fear no evil, for You are with me.'”

He then shares a treasured teaching passed down from his father-in-law, Maran Rav Shach zt”l, that he received from the Chofetz Chaim zt”l: “Many years ago, I heard from my father-in-law…. Maran Rav Shach zt”l, who said in the name of the Chofetz Chaim zt”l, that when a person finds himself in a time of distress and suffering, rachmana litzlan, he should recite Psalm 20 of Tehillim — ‘Ya’ancha Hashem b’yom tzarah’ — three times.”

Toward the end of the letter, Rav Bergman addresses Jews in the Diaspora, calling upon them to rise to the occasion in unity with their brothers in Eretz Yisroel: “All of this I write also to my dear brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, for all of Israel is considered one body, as stated in the Yerushalmi (Nedarim 9) and in Yalkut Shimoni, Remez 137, and we are all mutually responsible for one another. The obligation at this moment is immense — to plead and to beseech, to strengthen ourselves with added fervor in all the aforementioned areas, so that Hashem will turn away His anger and have mercy on His people and His inheritance.”

Rav Bergman concludes the letter, handwritten, with a pasuk from Yirmiyahu: “Eis tzarah hi l’Yaakov u’mimenah yivoshea” — “It is a time of trouble for Yaakov, but he will be saved from it.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

When President Donald Trump introduced a new wave of tariffs, many prominent economists sounded the alarm, warning that consumer prices would soar and reignite inflation. But according to CNN, those fears have not yet materialized.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that annual inflation in May reached 2.4%, only a slight increase from April’s 2.3%. That April figure marked the lowest inflation rate the U.S. had seen since February 2021.

Goldman Sachs had forecasted a significant rise in core goods inflation, projecting it could reach 6.3% within the year. JPMorgan also predicted inflation would nearly double by the end of 2025.

Despite these predictions, prices for many consumer goods have remained relatively steady so far.

Dana Telsey, CEO and chief research officer at Telsey Advisory Group, explained that the lack of price hikes is likely due to retailers still moving merchandise purchased at lower costs. “Many retailers are still selling through their lower-cost inventory,” she said.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered a similar explanation: “Goods being sold at retailers today may have been imported several months ago, before tariffs were imposed.”

Trump’s team dismissed the gloomy economic forecasts, telling CNN that those who had warned of dire consequences were now discredited.
“The economists who predicted a downturn have all been discredited,” they said.

Trump himself defended the outcome of his first term: “What we got in the first term [of Trump’s presidency] was not recession or inflation, we got price stability, robust economic growth and rising wages, just as we thought we would,” he said.

Still, some economists insist that the effects of the tariffs are merely delayed.
“It’s a question of when, not if,” Stephanie Roth, chief economist at Wolfe Research, told CNN.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, venture capitalist Paul Pelosi, reported earnings in 2024 ranging between $7.8 million and $42.5 million, according to newly released financial disclosure forms. Based on these filings, the couple’s estimated net worth could now reach as high as $413 million.

This marks a significant increase from the previous year, when their net worth was estimated to top out at around $370 million, indicating a strong financial upswing over the past twelve months.

Precise figures remain unclear, however, as members of Congress are only required to disclose assets and income within broad ranges.

Quiver Quantitative, a market data firm that provides projected valuations based on real-time stock activity, estimated the Pelosis’ total 2024 net worth at approximately $257 million—an increase of $26 million compared to 2023.

However, the couple’s true financial standing could be considerably higher, as they hold stakes in various ventures beyond stocks, including a Napa Valley vineyard, a political consulting company, and ownership in a popular Italian restaurant in the Bay Area.

A major portion of their wealth has come from carefully timed stock market trades made under Paul Pelosi’s name.

Nancy Pelosi, who has become so associated with market activity that Rep. Josh Hawley of Missouri once named legislation after her, and her husband sold 5,000 shares of Microsoft in July, generating an estimated $2.2 million just before the FTC announced an antitrust probe into the company.

They also unloaded 2,000 shares of Visa, worth about $525,000, less than three months prior to the Justice Department launching a monopoly lawsuit against the credit card company.

Their most lucrative trade, however, may have been in December when they exercised a call option purchased in late 2023 for an estimated $1.8 million. This deal allowed them to acquire 50,000 shares of NVIDIA at just $12 per share—less than 10% of the market value at the time.

Their total investment of approximately $2.4 million is now valued at over $7.2 million on paper.

NVIDIA wasn’t their only artificial intelligence-related trade in 2024.

That February, they purchased call options on cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks, investing somewhere between $600,000 and $1.25 million. The timing coincided with a classified White House briefing to lawmakers regarding a serious Russian national security threat.

Shares of Palo Alto Networks jumped nearly 20% shortly after.

That trade gave the couple the right to buy 14,000 shares at $100 apiece—roughly half the market value at the time. With the company’s earnings continuing to surge, the holding is now worth around $2.8 million.

However, not all trades were wins. In June, the Pelosis sold 2,500 shares of Tesla, a company led by Elon Musk, reportedly taking a loss estimated between $100,000 and $1 million.

Altogether, their investment returns in 2024 hit an estimated 54%, more than doubling the S&P 500’s 25% gain and outpacing every major hedge fund tracked by Bloomberg’s annual performance rankings.

These substantial gains have reignited debate over whether members of Congress should be permitted to trade individual stocks, given their access to sensitive, market-moving information.

Pelosi previously opposed such restrictions, arguing that “we’re a free‑market economy.”

In recent months, however, she has appeared less resistant to reform. When questioned in May about a potential ban on congressional stock trading, she said, “If they do, they do.”

A spokesperson told The Post, “Speaker Pelosi does not own any stocks, and she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions.”

The Pelosis’ strong investment streak has already carried into 2025.

In January, they bought call options in Tempus AI, an artificial intelligence healthcare company that has since signed a $200 million deal with AstraZeneca and seen its stock price double.

They also acquired call options in Vistra, an energy company whose shares surged after it announced a $1.9 billion purchase of natural gas assets from a private equity group, citing a sharp rise in U.S. electricity demand.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump after the United States launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“In the pages of human history, this is a moment when the principles of liberty, responsibility, and security have triumphed. A decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope,” he stated.

Herzog continued by praising the operation and its broader implications: “Thank you, President Donald Trump. Thank you, United States of America. This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world. I hope it will lead to a better future for the Middle East — and help advance the urgent release of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza,” he said.

Not long before, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu shared a video in which he reacted to the U.S. military action in Iran.

“President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace,” Netanyahu said in a post on social media. “And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”

Later that evening, Trump addressed the American people and declared the mission a resounding success. “The strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said.

He also issued a stern warning to the Iranian regime: “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran – far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember there are many targets left.”

Following his speech, Trump took to Truth Social to caution Iran against any countermeasures in response to the attack.

“Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

LISTEN:

An Israeli source with firsthand information confirmed to ABC News that the United States and Israel previously rehearsed this strike during a joint military drill held about a year ago.

According to the source, what made the exercise unique was that it marked the first time the two allies simulated offensive maneuvers specifically targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The source added that the original planning for the operation took place during the Biden administration, noting, “But we did not think a year ago that this would happen now.”

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the military action ordered by President Trump today, Iran may choose to retaliate by striking U.S. bases and strategic military sites located throughout the Middle East.

One potential target is Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which stands as the largest American military installation in the region.

The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, is another key American presence. It plays a central role in naval operations throughout the Persian Gulf.

Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, which came under fire from Iran in 2020 following the death of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, remains a significant deployment hub for thousands of American troops.

Harir Air Base, located in Erbil, Iraq, has previously been attacked by drones launched by Iranian proxy forces, making it another likely option for reprisal.

In southern Syria, the U.S. operates Al Tanf Garrison near the tri-border area of Iraq and Jordan. In January 2024, an Iranian-aligned militia carried out a deadly strike on Tower 22, just a short distance from Al Tanf, killing three American service members.

Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, roughly 20 miles from the Iraqi frontier, hosts the Air Force’s 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and is a key staging location.

Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is another essential site. It houses the Air Force’s 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which flies F-22 Raptors along with a range of reconnaissance aircraft and drones.

In addition to these installations, Iran could aim its aggression at American embassies located in nearby countries such as Iraq, the UAE, or Israel.

Beyond direct attacks, Iran could attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz—a strategically vital waterway through which around 25% of global oil supply and about one-third of the world’s liquefied natural gas pass.

According to a U.S. official earlier this month, around 40,000 active-duty American service members are currently stationed either on land in the Middle East or aboard ships in the surrounding waters.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized during Senate testimony on Wednesday that protecting U.S. personnel remains the Pentagon’s top concern while simultaneously advising Trump on possible responses to Iranian aggression.

“We have maximum force protection in the region at all times being maintained,” Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Earlier this month, Hegseth approved the voluntary departure of all military family members from U.S. bases throughout the region, a precautionary measure given the volatile situation.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was not seen among the officials photographed with President Trump and his top national security advisors during a high-level meeting in the Situation Room earlier today.

Gabbard, who testified before Congress in March asserting that “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” has come under scrutiny as President Trump offered a sharply different assessment in recent public statements.

During remarks on Friday, the president pushed back on that narrative, stating, “my intelligence community is wrong” if they believe there is no indication that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

When asked specifically about Gabbard’s statement, Trump responded emphatically: “She’s wrong.”

President Donald Trump addressed the nation tonight after the United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran. From the White House, Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

WATCH IN FULL:

Read the transcript of Trump’s speech below:

“A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror.

“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.

“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

“For years, Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over a thousand people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate.

“In particular, so many were killed by their general, Qasem Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team. Like perhaps no team has ever worked before. And we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.

“I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

“Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan “Raizin'” Cain — spectacular general — and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.

“With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.

MORE: Israel-Iran live updates: Trump announces attack on Iranian nuclear sites
“There is no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.

“Tomorrow, Gen. Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God.

“I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and god bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

{Matzav.com}

Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva and the zekan roshei haeyshivos, has been released from the hospital.

The rosh yeshiva had been hospitalized due to low hemoglobin levels and remained so that additional tests could be conducted to evaluate other health concerns.

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

{Matzav.com}

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Trump’s strikes on Iran constitute “grounds for impeachment.”

“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” she said on X. “He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu declared that his earlier commitment to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had now been fulfilled.

In a Hebrew-language video message addressed to the nation following the American assault on Iranian nuclear sites, Netanyahu emphasized that the U.S. military action had been executed in “full coordination” with Israel’s armed forces.

Netanyahu noted that the U.S. had effectively brought to completion the mission the Israeli military launched on June 13 to target Iran’s nuclear installations.

“At the beginning of the operation, I promised you that Iran’s nuclear facilities would be destroyed, one way or another. This promise was kept,” Netanyahu says.

He shared that President Trump had phoned him right after the U.S. strike concluded, offering heartfelt congratulations during what Netanyahu described as an emotional and sincere conversation.

“He congratulated me, he congratulated our army and he congratulated our people,” Netanyahu says, adding that he responded with words of appreciation in kind.

“President Trump is leading the free world with strength. He is a great friend of Israel, a friend like no other,” the premier continues, expressing deep gratitude to Trump.

WATCH:

With great sadness, Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shmuel Breskin zt”l of Lakewood.

Rav Shmuel was a talmid of Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l at Beth Medrash Govoha, where he immersed himself in limud haTorah.

Rav Shmuel’s wife Leah, was a daughter of Rav Moshe Finkel zt”l and sister of Rav Elya Boruch Finkel zt”l.

Details of the levayah will be published once finalized.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}