Matzav

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued strong criticism of Israel’s strike in Qatar just ahead of his scheduled meeting with Israel’s president in London on Wednesday.

Starmer said the attack, which targeted Hamas officials based in Doha, amounted to an infringement of Qatar’s sovereignty and carried the danger of “further escalation across the region.”

“The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and a huge surge in aid into Gaza. This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace,” he wrote in a post on X.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed it had “conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation.”

Qatar, which has served as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas, sharply criticized the strike as a “blatant violation of international law.” Hamas said six of its people were killed, though the main leadership group, including its negotiators, survived.

Downing Street emphasized that the UK was not informed in advance, insisting it was “an entirely independent operation.” By contrast, the White House has acknowledged that Washington was briefed ahead of the assault.

Starmer spoke by phone on Tuesday night with Qatar’s emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, condemning the Israeli strike and again describing it as a “flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty,” according to a statement from Downing Street.

The prime minister is slated to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Downing Street on Wednesday, where the agenda will include the strike on Doha and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Starmer has faced pushback for agreeing to host Herzog. While some in government argue that pressing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace requires direct engagement with Israel, critics—including several Labour backbenchers—say the visit sends mixed signals.

More than 60 MPs and peers, drawn from Labour, the Greens, and the SNP, have urged the government to bar Herzog’s entry to the UK to avoid any association with what they describe as genocide.

Downing Street has previously said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be subject to arrest if he traveled to Britain, given that the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Herzog, from a different political party than Netanyahu, holds a largely ceremonial position. Although he has sparred with Netanyahu over democratic reforms, he has generally supported the military campaign in Gaza.

He drew international attention in October 2023 when he declared that all Palestinians in Gaza bore responsibility for the October 7 Hamas assault. “The entire [Palestinian] nation out there … is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved,” he said at the time.

That remark was referenced by the International Court of Justice in its ruling of January 26, 2024, which determined that Palestinians faced an “imminent risk” of genocide and required Israel to act immediately to ensure its forces refrained from violations under the genocide convention and to safeguard Gaza’s population.

Herzog has since contended that the ICJ mischaracterized his comments by citing them out of context. His trip to London this week marks the first time a high-ranking Israeli official has visited the UK since foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar came in the spring.

Starmer last had a face-to-face meeting with Herzog in Paris more than a year ago, shortly after becoming prime minister.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration announced that it had informed Qatari authorities before Israel carried out an airstrike on Hamas negotiators in Doha, but officials in Qatar dismissed that assertion.

The White House statement came Tuesday, only hours after Israel hit a residential district in the Qatari capital. Qatar has played a central role in mediating US-backed negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza.

“The Trump administration was notified by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” she said. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

Leavitt said that President Trump had directed his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to “inform the Qataris of the impending attack”.

But Doha disputed the account, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari saying that reports of advance warning were “completely false.”

“The call that was received from an American official came during the sound of the explosions that resulted from the Israeli attack in Doha,” he wrote in a post on X.

According to Hamas, five of its members were killed in the strike, but the core negotiating team survived. Qatar’s Interior Ministry said one of those killed was a Qatari security officer. The Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as “cowardly” and denounced “any action targeting its security and sovereignty”.

Trump later expressed regret about where the strike occurred, saying he had promised Qatar it would not be repeated.

“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”

He again claimed that Witkoff was instructed to alert Doha but admitted it was “unfortunately, too late to stop the attack”.

“I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE,” he added.

Qatar has been central to past ceasefire agreements, including a pause in fighting in November 2023 and a six-week truce in January 2025. Its mediation efforts were praised by both the Biden administration and Trump.

The Israeli strike came only days after Trump warned Hamas negotiators to accept his new proposal for a ceasefire, accusing them of dragging their feet. Israel, meanwhile, has been accused of repeatedly disrupting the talks.

“The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” Trump posted on Sunday.

“I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”

After the bombing, Hamas said the individuals targeted were in discussions about Trump’s offer.

The group claimed the incident “confirms beyond doubt that Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any agreement and are deliberately seeking to thwart all opportunities and thwart international efforts”.

“We hold the US administration jointly responsible with the occupation for this crime, due to its ongoing support for the aggression and crimes of the occupation against our people,” Hamas said.

Leavitt reiterated to journalists that Trump “believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.”

She confirmed that Trump spoke with Netanyahu after the strike but declined to say whether he threatened consequences for Israel.

Qatar’s Amiri Diwan later announced that Trump had also spoken with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and condemned the Israeli action.

“For his part, His Highness the Emir affirmed that the State of Qatar condemns and denounces in the strongest terms this reckless, criminal attack and considers it a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and security and a clear breach of the rules and principles of international law,” the statement read.

The emir warned that the attack endangered regional stability and undercut “efforts to de-escalate and reach sustainable diplomatic solutions”.

“Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty,” he declared.

Despite the White House explanation, Khalil Jahshan of the Arab Center Washington DC said regional perceptions would still paint the US administration as complicit.

“When Israel is given a green light to basically wreak havoc over the region and violate international law, violate sovereignty of nations that are not even enemies, but actually very close allies of the United States, one has to wonder: Where does Israel stand, and why would Israel be allowed to do that?” he said.

Qatar, a longtime advocate of Palestinian rights, was granted “major non-NATO ally” status by Washington in 2022, a designation meant to symbolize strong ties and respect.

Jahshan argued that Israel’s actions had rendered the title meaningless.

“If that status allows you to be exposed to attacks from a US ally with a US green light, then, to me, I would rather not have friends like this,” he remarked.

Qatar is home to Al Udeid airbase, the largest American military facility in the Middle East, housing US, Qatari, and British forces, with about 10,000 troops stationed there.

The Gulf state has also played a diplomatic role by hosting political offices of groups such as Hamas and the Taliban, an arrangement it has said was encouraged by Washington more than a decade ago.

Nabeel Khoury, who once served as deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Yemen, said the decision to hit central Doha, not far from Al Udeid, left him astonished.

“As cynical as I am and as used as I am to Israeli excesses, I have to say I was shocked,” he said. “I think everybody should be shocked and should be woken up from whatever dream they’re in to the reality that Israel has now obviously become a totally rogue state.”

Khoury suggested that the bombing would seriously harm US credibility and discourage others in the region from engaging in American-led talks.

“Honestly, I don’t see how anybody, especially in the Arab world, can continue to deal with the US,” he said.

Jahshan added that other Gulf states, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, will be compelled to react strongly or risk appearing vulnerable.

“If they allow one of them to be the target of such an attack, then they’re all targets for such attacks in the future,” he warned. “How do they proceed?”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the Israeli strike in Qatar, insisting that members of its negotiating team were not killed. At the same time, the terror group released the names of several individuals it said were killed in the attack, including the son of senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya.

In its announcement, Hamas described the Israeli strike on its delegation in Doha as “a heinous crime, blatant aggression, and a clear violation of all international norms and laws.”

The group argued that the attack violated Qatari sovereignty, emphasizing that Qatar—alongside Egypt—plays a central role in mediating efforts to end the fighting and secure a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Hamas claimed that Israel’s strike was aimed at derailing these diplomatic efforts.

According to Hamas, Israel’s attempt to target its senior leadership failed. “We affirm the enemy’s failure to assassinate our brothers in the negotiating delegation,” the statement read. However, it confirmed that several others had been killed, whom the organization labeled as “martyrs.” Among them:

• Jihad Labbad (Abu Bilal), office director of Dr. Khalil al-Hayya

• Humam al-Hayya (Abu Yahya), son of Dr. Khalil al-Hayya

• Abdullah Abdul Wahed (Abu Khalil), associate

• Mu’aman Hassouna (Abu Omar), associate

• Ahmad al-Mamlouk (Abu Malik), associate

Hamas also mourned the death of Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi, a member of Qatar’s internal security forces (known as Lekhwiya).

The statement accused Israel and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining all opportunities for an agreement, saying the strike took place while Hamas was discussing the latest proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hamas further charged that Washington shares responsibility for the attack due to its ongoing support for Israel.

“The Zionist occupation poses an immediate threat to the region and the world,” Hamas claimed, accusing Netanyahu of pursuing policies of “genocide, ethnic cleansing, famine, and forced displacement.”

The group called on the international community, the United Nations, and “all free peoples of conscience” to denounce the attack on Qatar and exert pressure on Israel to halt its military campaign.

Concluding its statement, Hamas vowed that the failed assassination attempt would not alter its demands: “an immediate cessation of aggression against our people, the complete withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza, a genuine prisoner exchange, and aid and reconstruction for our people.”

The statement closed with a pledge that “these acts of terror will not weaken our movement or its leadership, nor will they deter us from clinging to the national rights of our people and continuing the path of resistance until the occupation is removed from our land and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

There is a growing chorus inside both Congress and the Trump administration demanding that Cindy McCain, widow of late Arizona Senator John McCain, either step aside or be removed from her United Nations role directing food aid distribution in Gaza. The calls come after repeated failures in deliveries and widespread seizure of supplies by Hamas.

McCain, who heads the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), is under fire from colleagues, lawmakers, and former officials who accuse her of not coordinating with Israel’s military or with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to ensure food, water, and other essentials are properly delivered.

“If WFP was doing its job,” a senior US official told The Post, “Hamas wouldn’t be enriched and able to continue to prolong the war.”

“It’s wild incompetence,” the official added. “She’s either a useful idiot or she’s an active accomplice in what is ultimately an enormous, fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars.”

A different ex-staffer at WFP described McCain as “a disaster,” claiming she was known to be doing much of the job remotely from Arizona, while others in New York effectively ran the organization in her place.

“She’s treating this like it’s some kind of a board chairmanship that you don’t really have to show up for, and it’s not that,” the official complained. “It’s a highly operational job.”

Figures from a UN tracking system show that in August, all but two of 2,309 aid trucks entering Gaza were overrun, either by desperate civilians or by “forcefully armed actors.”

Since May, close to 33 tons of aid have been looted off trucks heading into the enclave.

“If we learned anything from the reveal of USAID, it’s that billions of American tax dollars were misspent in every corner of the globe — and the public was kept in the dark,” said Jonathan Wilcox, deputy chief of staff to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

“The US invests billions every year in the World Food Programme, and we have a right to expect the kind of transparency, efficiency and cooperation that reports indicate isn’t happening. It’s ‘trust, but verify’ time.”

President Trump on Monday issued what he described as a “last warning” to Hamas to accept a US- and Israel-backed cease-fire deal. Some allies believe the effort could be aided by humanitarian channels, if used strategically.

“It’s the easiest tool to help end wars and increase US national security around the world,” the former WFP official said. “Trump needs to understand how big of a tool this is.”

McCain was placed at the helm of WFP in April 2023 by appointment of President Joe Biden, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signing off on the five-year term.

The organization’s aid budget last year neared $10 billion, of which US taxpayers supplied around $4.5 billion.

Yet in Gaza, much of the food is being snatched by young men who then resell it on the black market — a process believed to funnel cash into Hamas’ coffers.

“McCain is in a position right now to turn the tide in Gaza against Hamas by fully integrating with GHF and coordinating security for her own food trucks but she refuses to do that,” said a former Trump national security adviser.

“She claims any attempt to secure aid convoys to prevent Hamas’ diversion or looting would be ‘militarizing’ international aid — but that defies logic and past precedent of doing whatever it is necessary to prevent armed actors from stealing the aid America is paying for,” the ex-official said.

“This is our taxpayer money McCain is controlling and if we think the best way to dislodge the terrorists and help the people is for WFP to work with and through GHF. That’s what McCain should be doing. Otherwise she should resign and let someone else take the job.”

In a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office this summer, McCain reportedly expressed satisfaction with the flow of supplies from Israel into Gaza — but then later shifted her tone.

“She said that during her recent visit to Gaza, she saw a dramatic improvement: food was available, prices had dropped, and markets showed goods in sufficient supply and at affordable prices,” Netanyahu’s office posted on X on Aug. 29.

“It is regrettable that Mrs. McCain has since issued statements contradicting what she told us in Jerusalem,” the statement continued. “That is a misrepresentation. Israel is enabling a steady flow of aid in sufficient quantities.”

“I stand by what I’ve said,” McCain replied on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” two days later. “There’s not enough food getting in.”

“We have in recent weeks been able to get a little more food in. But it’s not enough,” she added, calling for a full cease-fire to increase aid.

“Any cease-fire that they would initiate would just allow for the expansion of Hamas and have greater control and we’re going through this whole drill again,” countered a US-based source with direct knowledge.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who visited the Kerem Shalom crossing on Aug. 28, also weighed in.

“I want to make it clear I have never bought into the narrative that Israel is intentionally starving the people of Gaza as a tool of war,” he said.

“I blame Hamas for all the problems associated with the attack of October 7 [2023] and its aftermath. I do expect Israel to work with international organizations and I believe that they are.”

Despite criticism, McCain, age 71, still has backing from some in Washington, including certain Republicans and State Department officials, who point out she is finishing the term of a difficult assignment. Critics also accuse her of mishandling crises in Sudan and Ukraine.

“She hasn’t been ‘Loomered’ yet — she should be ‘Loomered,’” one US official quipped, referring to activist Laura Loomer’s pressure campaigns against Trump administration members thought to be disloyal, which led to some NSC firings earlier this year.

Behind the scenes, conversations are already happening about potential replacements if McCain exits. Among the names under discussion is Kip Tom, who served as US Ambassador to UN food and agriculture agencies from May 2019 until January 2021, according to several sources familiar with the talks.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s prime minister issued a sharp warning following Israel’s strike on Hamas figures in Doha, declaring that his nation “reserves the right to respond” to what he described as a grave assault, while also stressing that mediation initiatives would go forward.

“Qatar… reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said during a press briefing.

“We believe that today we have reached a pivotal moment. There must be a response from the entire region to such barbaric actions,” he continued.

Despite the severity of the incident, Al-Thani pledged that his country would not abandon its role in trying to secure both a ceasefire and an agreement on the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas.

“Nothing will deter us from continuing this mediation in the region,” Al-Thani affirmed.

Earlier reports from diplomatic officials indicated that Qatar was preparing to temporarily pause its mediation role, though the prime minister’s comments pointed in the opposite direction.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a response Tuesday regarding Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump emphasized that the decision to launch the operation was made by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and did not come from him.

“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” wrote Trump.

He continued, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

Trump explained, “I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack.”

He added, “I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW! I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country. I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Qatar had been warned by the U.S. before the strike took place.

{Matzav.com}

At the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, a special gathering was held to celebrate America’s 249th Independence Day. The occasion, attended by Israeli and American leaders, featured Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivering a strong message about the unshakable friendship between the two countries while pledging that Israel would continue its fight against Hamas following the latest wave of bloodshed.

The commemoration had been postponed from the Fourth of July due to heightened security risks during Operation Rising Lion.

Netanyahu opened his address with a wry remark that he had been “otherwise engaged” earlier that day, a thinly veiled reference to the strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar. “I sent a video address that they’re going to show, in which I said that Israel has no greater ally than the USA, and the USA has no greater ally than Israel. I meant it, from the heart.”

“Yesterday, four of our soldiers were killed by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, and six Israeli civilians were brutally murdered at a bus stop in Jerusalem,” Netanyahu stated. “This morning, Hamas proudly took credit for both of these actions.”

He went on to explain that “At noon today, I convened the heads of Israel’s security organizations and authorized a surgical precision strike on the terrorist chiefs of Hamas.” Delivering part of his remarks in Hebrew, he said, “The strike was prepared by all the security forces in the best possible manner, and executed in a manner that impressed the entire world.”

Netanyahu described those targeted as “the same terrorists who planned, launched and celebrated the horrific massacres of October 7th, the savage murder of more than a thousand people, the beheading of men, the rape and murder of women, the burning of babies, the taking of over 250 hostages, innocent hostages, grandmothers, grandchildren, Holocaust survivors, They perpetrated the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Now, they were meeting in the same place, exactly the same place, where they celebrated this savagery almost two years ago.”

Reflecting on his earlier vows, he reminded the audience: “At the beginning of the war, I promised that Israel would reach those who perpetrated this horror. I promised that none of them would escape, and we are systematically eliminating them.” Netanyahu added, “Today, Israel and I have kept that promise. There was a time when Jews could be murdered with impunity. But since the founding of the state of Israel, those days are over. On this day, as in previous days, Israel acted wholly independently. Wholly independently. And we take full responsibility for this action.”

He stressed that Israel had already inflicted major damage on its enemies. “We have delivered massive blows to the axis of evil, including the removal of the threat of nuclear weapons. We continue to strike them, but the war must end where it started – Gaza.”

Netanyahu also emphasized the possibility of moving toward a resolution. “This action can open the door to an end of the war in Gaza. Israel has accepted the principles proposal put forward by President Trump to end the war, beginning with the immediate release of all our hostages which have been held in the dungeons of Gaza for 700 days. If President Trump’s proposal is accepted, the war can end immediately. We can begin once again to pursue the expansion of peace in our region for the benefit of all.”

Turning his attention directly to Gaza’s residents, he urged them to break free from Hamas. “Don’t be derailed by these murderous terrorists, by these killers. They don’t care a hoot about you. They live in sumptuous villas. You can’t imagine how sumptuous. Their partners in Gaza don’t worry about you. They go to the underground tunnels, and they keep you above ground so you serve as human shields for them. Don’t be derailed by these killers. Stand up for your rights and for your future. Make peace with us. Accept President Trump’s proposal. Don’t worry. You can do it, and we can promise you a different future. But you’ve got to take these people out of the way. If you do, there is no limit to our common future.”

He concluded by acknowledging the organizers and extending gratitude to friends of Israel for their steadfast backing.

“If we had five or six more Mike Huckabees,” Netanyahu joked, “Israel wouldn’t have a problem.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday on his Truth Social page that Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian academic who was abducted in Iraq, has been freed.

“I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months,” wrote Trump.

“I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!” he added.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also confirmed her release, saying, “As a culmination of extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months, we announce the release of the Russian citizen, Elizabeth Tsurkov. We reaffirm, once again, that we will not tolerate any compromise in enforcing the law and upholding the authority of the state, nor will we allow anyone to undermine the reputation of Iraq and its people.”

Her sister, Emma Tsurkov, expressed her relief and joy on X, writing, “My entire family is incredibly happy. We cannot wait to see Elizabeth and give her all the love we have been waiting to share for 903 days.”

“We are so thankful to President Trump and his Special Envoy, Adam Boehler. If Adam had not made my sister’s return his personal mission, I do not know where we would be. We also want to thank Josh Harris and his team at the US Embassy in Baghdad for the support they provided to our sister and the team at the nonprofit Global Reach who advocated relentlessly for my sister’s safe return,” she continued.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a PhD candidate at Princeton University and a fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, had vanished in March 2023. In July, Israeli officials confirmed she was being held by Kata’ib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia with Iranian backing.

Earlier this year, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that Tsurkov was alive and assured that Prime Minister al-Sudani was working to secure her freedom.

Later reports indicated that her release was being considered in connection with an arrangement involving the possible freeing of eight Hezbollah operatives by Israel.

Nuclear weapons analysts have concluded that, for the first time in a decade and a half, Iran lacks any clear pathway to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels after coordinated American and Israeli strikes severely damaged its nuclear program, according to the New York Post.

The findings come from a paper authored by David Albright, a leading expert on nuclear proliferation and founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, together with a research team. Their analysis drew heavily on monitoring data provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The report states: “With the massive destruction of its gas centrifuge program and installed centrifuge cascades, for the first time in over 15 years, Iran has no identifiable route to produce weapon-grade uranium (WGU) in its centrifuge plants. In addition, the attacks caused immense destruction to Iran’s ability to make the nuclear weapon itself.”

Even so, the authors were careful to note that they cannot determine whether some centrifuges may have withstood the aerial bombardments, since there is no reliable information on equipment that might have survived the assault.

The United States targeted Iran’s nuclear installations during Operation Midnight Hammer, a strike carried out on June 21, 2025, just days before the conclusion of the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran.

US President Donald Trump later declared that Iran’s most sensitive nuclear facilities were “obliterated” as a result of the campaign.

In July, over a month after those raids, Albright disclosed that his institute had reviewed satellite photographs revealing renewed activity at the Isfahan nuclear compound in Iran.

Posting on X, Albright wrote, “we at the Institute found new activity at one of the Isfahan tunnel entrances that occurred during the last few days.” He explained that vehicles were spotted near the northern entrance to the tunnels, and that “access to the tunnel portal, which was previously blocked by backfilled dirt, has been gained within the last week.”

He also mentioned that the central tunnel entrance displayed evidence of movement in mid-July, with heavy equipment visible, but “no significant progress appears to have been made towards establishing tunnel portal access as of the end of July.” Meanwhile, barriers blocking the southern entrance were still in place, with “no activity is visible there,” he wrote.

At the primary Isfahan facility, the imagery revealed very little going on. “Some roads have been cleared of debris but there is minimal vehicle presence,” Albright explained. He added that multiple access routes surrounding the damaged aboveground sections are still obstructed, with checkpoints left intact.

R’ Yisrael Elias, a yungerman from Neve Yaakov, was spared from tragedy in the horrific shooting yesterday at Ramat Junction in Yerushalayim, where six Yidden were niftar.

Speaking on Kol Chai radio, Yisrael recalled the terrifying scene when a bullet pierced his vehicle, missing his head by a hair’s breadth.

“Hashem protected me with miracles,” he said. Yisrael was driving his regular route from home to his Yeshiva in Givat Shaul along Begin Road, when he suddenly hit an unusually heavy backup at the junction. “It took me an hour and twenty minutes to get there; it was unusually long.”

Just after he passed the busy bus stop, gunfire rang out. “I instinctively stopped the car; I don’t know why, instead of running,” he remembered. As he stepped out, he spotted a terrorist—bald, in jeans—about 15 meters away, firing at innocent people.

“He just shot one person, then another, moving between people as if it were a game,” Yisrael described, still shaken. Realizing the danger, he rushed back to his car, but the terrorist had noticed him and aimed directly at him.

“I sat in the seat and heard a boom. The bullet went through the rear windshield, passing right above my head,” Yisrael recounted. “If I had turned my head to look back, the bullet would have hit me directly. It was a matter of centimeters.”

He suggested that perhaps the attacker thought he was armed, or simply wanted to take him out. “I was right in front of the bus, two cars away from the massacre.”

Yisrael, who still vividly remembers the Neve Yaakov attack from a few years back, expressed his sense of helplessness. “I tried twice to get a gun license, but it didn’t work because of bureaucracy,” he said. “I saw a 15-year-old boy shot beside me when he tried to hitchhike. I hesitated to pick him up but didn’t.”

“Seeing people fall, their lives ending, and you can do nothing—it’s terribly frustrating,” he added.

Overcome with emotion, Yisrael voiced his gratitude to the Ribbono Shel Olam: “Hashem didn’t want seven more orphans and a widow.” He pointed out that the attack, carried out in a crowded area, could have been far worse. “Two terrorists with Carlo rifles shot continuously for three minutes. It’s a miracle there weren’t more victims.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters at today’s press briefing that President Donald Trump had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israel’s airstrikes in Doha, Qatar, which were aimed at Hamas leadership based there.

“Netanyahu told Trump that he wanted to make peace quickly, and that the President believes that this unfortunate incident can be used as an opportunity for peace,” Leavitt stated.

She went on to say, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and ally… does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

Leavitt also noted that Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir, giving assurances that “Nothing like this will happen again on your soil.” She explained further that “President Trump immediately instructed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to notify the Qataris of the impending attack, and he did. The President considers Qatar a strong ally and friend of the United States, and feels very badly about the location of this attack.”

She concluded by emphasizing Trump’s position: “President Trump wants all the hostages in Gaza and the bodies returned and for this war to end now. To be clear, the President disagrees with the location of the attack, and he did convey that to the Prime Minister.”

{Matzav.com}

According to reports from the Saudi network Al Hadath, five of Hamas’s most senior operatives, including the group’s head Khaled Mashal, had gathered in Doha on Tuesday afternoon when the IDF struck the location. Early accounts indicated that Mashal and at least three others were killed in the blast.

This strike in the heart of Qatar’s capital marks the first time Israel has gone after Hamas’s leadership on Qatari soil. For nearly two years since the October 7 massacre, Israel had avoided directly targeting the top figures who lived in comfort there.

Among those said to have been present at the meeting were Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, along with veteran Hamas figure Nizar Awadallah. Arabic media outlets claim that all three, in addition to Mashal, were eliminated in the operation.

Al Jazeera, however, cited a Hamas representative who insisted the leaders survived. For now, Hamas has issued no official confirmation or denial about their status, and Qatari authorities have not clarified whether the intended targets were killed.

The IDF disclosed that the mission was given the name “Summit of Fire.”

It was further reported that President Donald Trump authorized the strike in advance, with the attack carried out in coordination with the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Some 150 public-safety professionals from across New York City gathered at the Police Academy in Flushing, N.Y., for what the mayor’s office called a “high-level” and “first-of-its-kind” training on Jew-hatred on Sept. 8.

The training is “part of our city’s all-of-government approach to combat antisemitism head-on,” stated Moshe Davis, executive director of the New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

“We are not only responding to hate but working to understand where it’s coming from, who is fueling it, and how it’s evolving,” Davis stated. “Education is a powerful tool in that fight.”

Training public-safety professionals ensures that “they can confront antisemitism wherever it appears, whether it be in our parks, our schools, our streets and beyond,” Davis said. “This is how we protect the safety and civil rights of every Jewish New Yorker.”

Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, stated that his administration created the office that Davis directs to ” lead with clarity, coordination and education.”

“From swastikas and inverted red triangles to threats against Jewish students or synagogues, we will not let hate gain ground,” Adams stated. “In the face of rising global antisemitism, New York is setting a national standard. Here, we fight hate with action. We will fight for the city we love.”

The mayor said that every officer, trainer and city employee needs to know how to identify and fight “antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

“That’s why we brought together New York City’s public safety leadership to confront how antisemitism is evolving,” he said. “How ancient hatred is being repackaged through conspiracy theories, political extremism and propaganda masquerading as activism.”

Participants in the training came from more than a dozen city agencies, including the school safety division, parks enforcement patrol, and the taxi and limousine commission police, according to the mayor’s office.

The retired FBI agent David Collins, a senior research fellow at the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and EJ Kimball, director of interfaith engagement at the Combat Antisemitism Movement, trained participants.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar on Tuesday stressed that Israel seeks to end the Hamas war based on U.S. President Donald Trump’s truce proposal and according to the principles set by Israel’s Security Cabinet.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Aug. 14 outlined the Cabinet’s goals for ending the war as the disarmament of Hamas, the return of all 48 remaining hostages, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control and establishing an alternative civilian administration in the enclave.

Sa’ar made his remarks in Zagreb during a closed meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, where the two discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Sa’ar thanked Plenkovic for Zagreb’s support following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror massacre and emphasized Jerusalem’s commitment to further strengthening diplomatic relations with the Balkan nation.

Israel’s top diplomat also referred to the Palestinian terror shooting that killed six civilians in Jerusalem on Monday, saying the Jewish state remains under assault on several fronts.

Sa’ar told Plenkovic that Israel’s enemies, led by Iran, continue to plot the country’s destruction, and that while Jerusalem desires peace, it “cannot compromise on the security of the state and its citizens.”

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Croatian counterpart later on Tuesday morning, Sa’ar said that the Jewish state “has been fighting for its existence against radical Islamist terrorism for almost two years.

Sa’ar praised Zagreb for being among the “responsible countries” who chose not to join the French- and Saudi-led initiative to recognize a Palestinian “terrorist state” in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.

“Countries like Croatia, Germany, Italy, which is fair, which is engaging fairly with both sides, contributed for example to the humanitarian issue in [the] Gaza Strip more than these countries who initiated unilateral initiatives like Spain, like France,” the top Israeli diplomat explained.

“For the sake of peace, it is very important to continue with this path of countries like Germany, like Italy, like Croatia, which understand that peace will be achieved in a bilateral context,” he stated. “I can assure you that we hear our friends, we take their words into consideration.”

Regarding the Gaza Strip, Sa’ar emphasized that the war “can end tomorrow” if Hamas agrees to the U.S. proposal for a hostage deal.

“President Trump said it clearly two days ago: Israel said yes to his proposal. We are ready to accept a full deal that would end the war based on the Cabinet decision,” the foreign minister stated. “We only have two simple demands: the return of our hostages, 48 are still being held in cruel captivity in Gaza, and for Hamas to lay down its arms.”

According to him, the second condition is not critical only for the Jewish state, but will also ensure “a better future of Gaza and the Palestinians.”

“On the contrary, the current initiative to recognize a Palestinian state undermines regional stability,” added Sa’ar, arguing that such a move would reward Hamas for Oct. 7 and serves as an incentive for the terrorists to prolong the war.

Trump said on Sunday that a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas in Gaza could be imminent, telling reporters he believed all remaining 48 captives would be freed as part of the U.S. proposal.

The remarks came just hours after Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Jerusalem had agreed to the latest framework.

“Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end! The Israelis have accepted my terms,” he wrote. “It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”

Hamas confirmed in an official statement on Sunday that it had received “several ideas from the American side to reach a ceasefire agreement,” conveyed through Qatar and Egypt, which are mediating the talks.

Hamas claimed it was willing to discuss a deal “in exchange for a clear declaration of the end of the war and a full [Israeli] withdrawal from the Strip, as well as the establishment of a committee to manage Gaza by independent Palestinians that would begin operating immediately.”

Hebrew media reported that under the latest ceasefire proposal, Israel would forgo its planned military operation to occupy Gaza City and instead enter talks to end the war under Trump’s personal auspices.

As long as negotiations continue, the fighting will not resume, with the president making the final decision, according to Channel 12 News.

Meanwhile, all hostages would be released on the first day of the truce, while Israel would commute the sentences of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including terrorists serving life terms for deadly attacks. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, currently holds the lead in a new poll, though the margin could narrow significantly if the contest becomes a two-man race, according to results from a New York Times/Siena College survey.

Between September 2 and September 6, researchers polled likely voters and found 46 percent backing Mamdani. Andrew M. Cuomo, who is running as an independent, received support from 24 percent, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa drew 15 percent. Incumbent mayor Eric Adams trailed with just 9 percent.

The Times reported that if Adams and Sliwa were to drop out, Cuomo would capture a large portion of their votes. In a direct matchup, the poll showed Mamdani ahead with 48 percent compared to Cuomo’s 44 percent.

The report also revealed that conversations have taken place about encouraging Adams to bow out of the race, possibly by offering him a position in the Trump administration. At the same time, advisers have been exploring strategies to persuade Sliwa to withdraw.

Much of Mamdani’s momentum is tied to his emphasis on affordability, the survey indicated. Roughly seven out of ten respondents favored his plan to freeze rent hikes on rent-stabilized apartments, with significant backing even from Cuomo and Adams supporters.

When asked which candidate they trusted most to address affordability, nearly half—49 percent—named Mamdani, while 23 percent chose Cuomo. On the specific issue of housing, Mamdani again had a wide edge, 46 percent to Cuomo’s 24 percent.

Respondents also preferred Mamdani’s stance on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Forty-three percent supported his approach, compared to 16 percent who favored Cuomo. The Times pointed out that Mamdani has been outspoken in condemning Israel and has accused it of committing genocide in Gaza.

Still, many voters doubted his ability to follow through on all of his campaign promises. Nearly two-thirds, including more than half of his own supporters, said they believed he would fall short of achieving everything he pledged.

Cuomo continues to carry baggage from his resignation as governor in 2021 after facing sexual harassment allegations. The poll found more than 80 percent of voters believe he engaged in misconduct or illegal behavior.

The survey, conducted among 1,284 likely voters, carries a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

Just hours before Shabbos, Arab residents from the neighboring village of Beit Chanina breached the security fence separating their area from the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalauyim and rode on horseback toward the Jewish community. Residents immediately alerted police, but the incident has left locals shaken and questioning whether authorities are taking the ongoing security failures seriously.

According to sources, the incident occurred along Yaakov Elazar and Ari Truman Streets, which overlook the wadi connecting to Beit Chanina. In recent weeks, residents had already filed multiple complaints to police about breaches in the dividing fence, warning that illegal infiltrators were crossing freely without intervention.

This past Friday evening, shortly before hadlokas neiros Shabbos, the fence—originally installed after October 7—was again broken open. But unlike previous occasions, this time the breach was dramatic: several Arabs on horseback galloped directly toward the entrance roads of Ramot, where many residents were on their way to shuls and parks.

Witnesses quickly called police. Officers arrived and briefly spoke with one of the infiltrators, but neighbors remain deeply concerned. “This was an unprecedented incident,” one woman said. “It’s not the first time. It has already happened several times that illegal infiltrators crossed the fence unimpeded. The feeling is that the police don’t care what’s going on here and that no responsible authority is dealing with it.”

The breach comes in the shadow of Monday morning’s deadly terror attack at Ramot Junction, intensifying public outrage over neglected security gaps.

In response, the Israel Police issued a statement: “We are acting with determination and without compromise under the authority of the Entry into Israel Law to enforce against illegal presence in the country. Numerous operational activities are carried out to locate illegal infiltrators, arrest them, bring them to justice, and transfer them to deportation procedures.”

The statement added that investigations are also opened against those who house, employ, or transport infiltrators. Police noted that vehicles used for transport can be confiscated and administrative closure orders issued against businesses or apartments where illegal residents are found.

The response concluded: “Israel Police will continue to act with all available tools, with firm and determined enforcement, to prevent illegal residence in Israel and to prosecute all parties involved.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A Nukhba terrorist who infiltrated Israel during the Simchas Torah massacre has confessed that a large majority of Gaza’s population is affiliated with terrorist organizations.

The terrorist, apprehended about two weeks ago, provided Israeli security forces with a glimpse into the internal atmosphere in Gaza and the widespread organizational ties among its residents. In a recording released by Channel 14 News, the captive terrorist is heard acknowledging that most Gazans are connected to terror factions.

“About 70 percent of Gaza’s residents belong to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the most well-known organizations we have, and they control the area,” the terrorist said in the interrogation. “Everyone belongs to Hamas and to Islamic Jihad.”

He went on to add that, in his opinion, most people in Gaza would leave the territory if given the chance: “Seventy percent of Gaza would emigrate if they could. If they had the opportunity to cross into Egypt, it wouldn’t matter to them. The main thing is to escape the oppression of Hamas that exists in Gaza.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

United Refining Company Chairman and CEO John Catsimatidis discusses President Donald Trump’s involvement in New York City’s mayoral race on ‘Mornings with Maria.’

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‘The Ben Shapiro Show’ host Ben Shapiro tells ‘Life, Liberty & Levin’ the issues with conservative political organizations and think tanks incorporating anti-Israel and anti-Trump ‘kooks’ into their orbits.

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Forbes Media chairman Steve Forbes discusses the New York City mayoral race and why voters need to learn more about candidate Zohran Mamdani on ‘The Evening Edit.’

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