Matzav

An emotional and unsettling discovery was made during a difficult winter journey in Poland, when a group traveling to visit the grave of the Kotzker Rebbe uncovered a long-hidden piece of Jewish history beneath the snow.

The story was shared by Rabbi Pinchas Sitbon during the Bedidi Hava Uvda segment on the Kol Berama radio program hosted by Ami Maimon. Rabbi Sitbon described a grueling two-hour trek he and a group of friends undertook through winding roads and a fierce snowstorm, determined to reach the kever of the Kotzker Rebbe.

Upon arriving at the cemetery, the group encountered an unexpected setback: the entrance gate was locked, and the local caretaker was nowhere to be found. Despite the freezing temperatures and severe conditions, the group decided not to turn back. They climbed over the iron fence and pushed forward, carving a narrow path through deep, unbroken snow.

As they made their way through the cemetery, one of the participants suddenly stumbled over a protrusion hidden beneath the snow. While clearing away the ice to regain his footing, the group was stunned to realize that the fall had not been accidental. Beneath the snow lay a tombstone, the grave of one of the righteous women of the Kotzker dynasty.

The sense of awe deepened when the group discovered that the very day of their visit coincided with her yahrtzeit. Those present described a powerful feeling that the encounter was not mere chance, but guided by Hashgocha. Moved by the moment, the group altered its plans and paused to recite tefillos as an aliyah for their neshamah, standing in the silent, frozen landscape that had concealed the grave until their arrival.

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of growing antisemitism across Europe, a leading rov of the Jewish community in Paris sought guidance this week from the Yenuka, asking for a decisive ruling on whether the community should consider relocating to Israel or remain in France.

Rabbi Shlomo Senyur, one of the prominent rabbanim of the Paris Jewish community, traveled to the home of the Yenuka in Rishon Letzion, where he joined the Shacharis mnnyan in the beis medrash before presenting the pressing question, one described as critical to the future of the Jewish community in Paris and, more broadly, to Jewish communities across Europe.

Rabbi Senyur laid out the dilemma facing many Jews in Paris and throughout France: in light of the intensifying waves of antisemitism in various parts of Europe and France, should the community uproot itself and move to Eretz Yisroel? At the same time, he noted the concern that many community members would not make aliyah, potentially leaving behind a weakened and unsupported Jewish presence.

In his response, the Yenuka stressed that there is an immense and invaluable merit for individuals who genuinely desire to ascend to Eretz Yisroel, attach themselves to its soil, and establish their lives there. However, when it comes to an organized, communal move, he advised that the priority should be to strengthen the existing community rather than dismantle it.

The Yenuka explained that even if a collective plan were formed to move together, in practice not everyone would follow through. As a result, those who remained behind would be abandoned and left vulnerable. He added that the current reality of a large, strong, and cohesive community provides resilience and protection for its members, whereas a partial departure that leaves only a small group behind would place those remaining in a dangerous and unstable situation.

“I say that one must strengthen the place there, to fight and not to be afraid. No matter what happens,” the Yenuka said. He reminded Rabbi Senyur of the example of the Or Sameach of Dvinsk, who remained with his community during World War I and did not abandon them, even though he knew war was imminent.

“Do not be afraid. Stay, strengthen, and put things in order, and may it be the will of Hakadosh Boruch Hu to nullify all this antisemitism. And the rov will continue to increase Torah there. Let your wellsprings spread outward. And to the members of the community I say: they should be careful with lashon hara, for this is the greatest protection from all calamities and all harm.”

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy was uncovered in Kyiv on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when a Holocaust survivor born in the city was found frozen to death in her apartment amid an intense cold spell gripping Ukraine.

Yevgenia Mikhailovna Bespamilnaya was discovered only after a burst water pipe in her apartment caused flooding throughout the building, with ice spreading across multiple floors as temperatures plunged to minus 18 degrees Celsius. According to reports, residents pressed police to force entry into the apartment, where Bespamilnaya was found lifeless in a completely frozen home. Authorities believe she had died several days earlier.

Bespamilnaya survived the Holocaust in Ukraine as a child. After the war, she was sent to an orphanage, where she was given her surname, meaning “without family.” She lived alone with no known relatives and spoke only Yiddish and Russian. Neighbors knew her as Baba Zhenya and described her as a quiet, withdrawn woman who rarely opened her door but made a point of attending the nearby shul.

Residents of the building said that in recent weeks they had tried to look after her, bringing basic supplies and offering assistance whenever possible. When she stopped answering phone calls and was not seen for several days, concern for her safety grew, but it was only the flooding incident that ultimately revealed what had happened.

The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of a harsh winter in Kyiv, marked by unusually severe cold waves, infrastructure damage, and prolonged outages of electricity and water. In a cruel twist of fate, Bespamilnaya, who survived the horrors of the Holocaust, died alone decades later in the freezing cold of the city where she was born.

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Esi Sharon, the dentist who confirmed the identity of the last fallen hostage, Ran Gvili Hy”d, shared a powerful account of the experience in an interview with Yedioth Acharonot, describing the intense emotions surrounding the moment he was identified.

Recalling the instant she saw the first photograph, Dr. Sharon said, “When I opened the image that they say sent me from the open grave, I shouted, ‘It’s Rani, it’s him.’ I yelled to the doctor to enter the grave and pull out the body for final identification, which would determine with certainty that he returns home to his family, but inside I already knew. The initial image they sent me was enough for me to conclude that it was Rani. I knew his dental records and their identifying marks by heart. My entire body shook from excitement.” Dr. Sharon serves as commander of the Dental Volunteer Unit within the Police Forensics Department.

She went on to explain how the identification effort unfolded on the ground. “The engineering vehicle operators began to dig holes together with soldiers from the Search Unit, and the dentists entered them to take photos and initial identification. After some time, [pictures of] bodies that the dentists photographed while still in the graves and sent us began to accumulate. Through that method, throughout the night, we ruled out 200 bodies whose graves were opened.”

Since the outbreak of the war, Dr. Sharon has worked alongside fellow dentists and forensic professionals to identify hundreds of victims of the Hamas massacre. Under her leadership, the unit successfully identified every deceased hostage whose remains were returned from the Gaza Strip.

During the mission to recover Ran Gvili, a team of 20 dentists examined roughly 250 bodies in a period of less than 24 hours, completing the painstaking process under extreme pressure and time constraints.

{Matzav.com}

One day after the body of Rani Gvili, who was killed in the Gaza Strip, was returned to Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the government’s Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons, Gal Hirsch, delivered statements to the media addressing the ongoing war, the hostages, and Israel’s next steps.

Netanyahu focused on Israel’s objectives in Gaza and described what he called the essential components of victory. “The complete victory depends on three things-returning all our hostages, dismantling Hamas and its weapons, and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, we completed the first task.”

Turning to Israel’s plans for Gaza after the fighting, the prime minister drew firm red lines. “We will not allow Turkey to enter Gaza. We will not establish a Palestinian state in Gaza. Israel will maintain security control over the entire area of Gaza.”

Addressing regional threats, Netanyahu warned Iran against any escalation. “The Iranian axis is trying to recover, but we will not allow it to do so. If Iran makes a grave mistake and attacks Israel, we will respond with a force that Iran has never seen before.”

Hirsch spoke emotionally about the cost of the effort to recover hostages and the scale of the losses. He acknowledged the extent of behind-the-scenes work that remains largely unknown to the public, saying, “In Israel, they don’t know everything you did. He helped bring people from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Venezuela.”

Reflecting on those who were murdered in captivity, Hirsch said, “87 of the kidnapped were killed. I remember them one by one, names and faces, love their families, and am tormented and pained by the terrible suffering and loss.”

Overcome with emotion, he described the personal toll of the mission. “This was the hardest task of my life. It’s not a holiday, but it’s a painful and also a happy day.”

Later, Netanyahu was asked whether national elections would proceed as scheduled amid the political crisis surrounding the conscription law. “That is my hope and aspiration. We need stability, and the last thing Israel needs is elections.”

He was also questioned about preparations for a possible confrontation with Iran and the role of the United States. “President Trump will decide what he decides, and the State of Israel will decide what it decides. We are prepared for any scenario, but I said the main thing here. If Iran makes the mistake and attacks us, it will receive a response it cannot even imagine.”

Netanyahu disclosed challenges Israel faced earlier in the war, including shortages of military supplies. “At a certain point in the war we didn’t have enough ammunition, and soldiers fell. Some of this loss of ammunition also came as a result of the embargo – this changed beyond recognition with the entry of President Trump.”

He concluded by outlining a long-term vision for Israel’s defense independence. “But we have reached security maturity – we must have an independent arms industry. And I intend within a decade to completely free ourselves from the financial component of American security assistance, which currently stands at $4 billion. I want us to move relations with the US from aid relations to cooperation relations – joint investments, joint development and production.”

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday evening completed the reading of all sections of the proposed conscription law, marking a major step toward final approval of one of Israel’s most sensitive and long-debated pieces of legislation.

Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth announced at the conclusion of the session that the panel has reached the end of the reading stage and that the bill will soon be brought to a vote in the committee ahead of its second and third readings. “We are reaching the finish line,” Bismuth said. “What dragged on for years, what repeatedly got stuck in endless discussions, moved forward during my watch, because there was a clear goal: a law.”

According to Bismuth, the committee’s work was driven by a desire to reach a decision rather than prolong deliberations without resolution. “Brick by brick, through dialogue, cooperation, and determination, we succeeded in completing the complex stage,” he said.

Bismuth also referenced remarks made earlier in the evening by the prime minister, who said Israel is “on the verge of completing the passage of the conscription law.” He noted that responsibility now shifts to the next phase of the legislative process. “The torch passes to the entire Knesset,” Bismuth said, “to continue the process until the law is approved in the plenum.”

{Matzav.com}

Sad news emerged from London on Tuesday night with the passing of R’ Dovid Shimon Berger z”l, a prominent askan for the Satmar and Pshevorsk communities. He was 49.

R’ Dovid Shimon passed away after battling a serious illness over the past year.

R’ Dovid Shimon was the son of the philanthropist and askan R’ Yosef Yechezkel Simcha Berger, the head of the Pshevorsker kehillah in London, and a grandson of R’ Mendel Berger z”l and the renowned philanthropist R’ Getzel Berger z”l.

He was a son-in-law of R’ Avraham Schwartz, and a grandson of the late R’ Lipa Schwartz z”l.

Widely known in London as a dedicated askan, R’ Dovid Shimon devoted himself to the needs of the Satmar mosdos, particularly the Yeitev Lev network, as well as to the Pshevorsker court. He was deeply involved in fundraising for tzedakah and communal causes, and was admired for his generosity, warmth, and open heart.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that protesters “can’t walk in with guns,” responding to a second fatal encounter involving federal authorities in Minnesota and staking out a position that has angered gun rights advocates.

Trump’s comments followed the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was legally carrying a handgun when he was taken to the ground, disarmed, and shot by border agents during a protest in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The incident has placed Trump in a politically fraught position, forcing him to balance support for forceful federal law enforcement actions against potential fallout with gun rights groups that have long been among his strongest supporters.

“You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns,” Trump told reporters when asked about Pretti’s death, which occurred just days after an immigration agent fatally shot unarmed activist Renee Good as she tried to drive away.

“You can’t do that. But it’s a very unfortunate incident.”

Trump’s stance has put him at odds with major conservative gun organizations, which argue that the Second Amendment protects the right to carry firearms while exercising other constitutional freedoms, including the right to protest.

Gun rights groups reacted sharply after senior administration officials appeared to suggest that Pretti’s lawful possession of a firearm justified the actions taken by federal agents.

The National Rifle Association said such assertions were “dangerous and wrong,” calling on public officials to wait for the outcome of an investigation rather than “demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

Gun Owners of America similarly said that Americans do not forfeit their right to bear arms simply because they are participating in a protest.

Trump’s remarks also highlighted strains within his own political camp.

While the president dialed back some of the rhetoric used by aides — rejecting the unfounded description of Pretti as an “assassin” offered by deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller — he did not abandon the broader argument that armed protesters pose an inherent risk to law enforcement officers.

That view has drawn criticism from libertarian-minded Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who said that “carrying a firearm is not a death sentence.”

The controversy has also revived accusations of inconsistency from Trump’s critics.

During the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021 protest at the U.S. Capitol, testimony from a senior White House aide indicated that Trump was aware some supporters attending his rally were armed, yet pressed for security measures to be relaxed so they could move closer, before urging the crowd to march on Congress.

The contrast has intensified Democratic attacks and unsettled segments of Trump’s base, particularly in light of the administration’s past defense of armed conservatives such as Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after killing two people with an AR-15-style rifle during a 2020 protest.

{Matzav.com}

Federal border czar Tom Homan held talks Tuesday with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with the governor’s office saying the two sides committed to maintaining “ongoing dialogue” as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts in the state.

President Donald Trump sent Homan to Minnesota on Monday following a second fatal shooting of an anti-ICE demonstrator over the weekend. Homan was also slated to meet later Tuesday with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

“I hear that’s all going well,” Trump told reporters before departing for Iowa.

Trump spoke with Walz on Monday and outlined three concrete steps he says are necessary to halt the unrest and avert additional violence.

First, the president is demanding that Minnesota authorities hand over all criminal illegal aliens currently held in state prisons or local jails — along with individuals who have outstanding warrants or documented criminal records — to federal officials for immediate removal.

Second, Trump wants state and local law enforcement agencies to commit to transferring any illegal aliens arrested by local police directly into federal custody.

Third, the administration is insisting that local police departments actively cooperate with federal agents by helping locate, arrest, and detain illegal aliens wanted for crimes, particularly those accused of violent acts.

Walz and Homan “will continue working toward those goals, which the President also agreed to yesterday,” the governor’s office said Tuesday. The statement also urged “impartial investigations into the shootings” of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“We’re doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself,” Trump told reporters.

Homan is briefing Trump directly on his discussions in Minnesota. Trump also met Monday night at the White House with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after directing Homan to the state.

That Oval Office meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, highlighted the administration’s resolve to reestablish order and sharpen its immigration enforcement strategy following violent demonstrations and a deadly encounter involving federal agents in Minneapolis.

Trump met with Noem, her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, and other top White House officials as the administration weighs its next moves after Pretti’s shooting death.

Trump said Tuesday that Noem will continue serving in her position.

“I think she’s doing a very good job … the border is totally secure,” he said.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and critically wounded a man Tuesday morning in southern Arizona near a checkpoint roughly 30 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to authorities.

The shooting occurred just days after Border Patrol agents deployed to assist ICE operations shot and killed armed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, a separate incident that has drawn significant attention.

Authorities said the gunfire broke out around 7:30 a.m. on a roadway approximately five miles north of the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Amado, located south of Tucson along the route to the Nogales border crossing.

The injured man was taken into custody and transported to a level-one trauma hospital following the incident.

“Patient care was transferred to a local medical helicopter for rapid transport to a regional trauma center,” the Santa Rita Fire District said.

The FBI said it is “investigating an alleged assault on a federal officer.”

At the request of federal authorities, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department will lead the use-of-force investigation, a spokesperson told The NY Post.

Officials have not released the identity of the suspect.

The sheriff’s department is expected to provide additional information about the shooting and the ongoing investigation during a press conference scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

{Matzav.com}

Joe Biden addressed the growing turmoil in Minneapolis with an extended post on social media, sharply criticizing federal conduct and urging investigations into recent deadly encounters involving federal authorities.

“What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans,” Biden wrote on X on Tuesday. “We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street.”

In the post, Biden charged that the Trump administration has permitted Americans to be “terrorized,” adding that “violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens.”

He went on to demand “full, fair, and transparent investigations” into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, noting that he and former first lady Jill Biden were sending “strength to the families and communities” impacted by the shootings.

Biden’s comments come as Minneapolis has been gripped by rising tensions after several fatal incidents over the past month involving federal law enforcement officers, incidents that have fueled protests, widespread outrage, and calls for accountability.

Opponents of the federal operations say the shootings highlight deeper issues surrounding the use of force and the erosion of civil liberties, while authorities maintain that formal investigations are underway.

Reaction to Biden’s statement was swift and combative online. Numerous commenters accused him of responsibility for the illegal immigration crisis and other federal policies, arguing that the unrest traces back to decisions made during his administration.

Some commenters also cast doubt on whether Biden personally authored the post. Journalist Nick Sortor wrote, “Who wrote this [garbage].” Another critic, Matt Van Swol, labeled Biden “a disgusting liar” and pointed to what he described as administration failures in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“Tell your followers to stop impeding agents,” the conservative account Clown World added.

The episode highlights how the situation in Minneapolis has evolved into a national political flashpoint, pulling in past and present leaders alike and exposing deep divisions in public reaction across social media.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas survivor Emily Damari shared footage showing a long line of humanitarian aid trucks traveling toward the Gaza Strip and condemned the policy allowing the convoy to enter the territory.

“By myself, I counted over 15 trucks on the road, but it’s hard to believe that hundreds of trucks carrying food are flowing this morning to ‘non-involved’ people in Gaza,” Damari wrote in a social media post accompanying the video.

She continued with a harsh rebuke of the situation, saying, “Don’t you still understand that there are no innocent people there?! Apparently, we haven’t learned anything.”

Israeli officials say that since the ceasefire went into effect, approximately 4,200 aid trucks have been permitted to enter Gaza each week under directives issued by the political leadership. At the same time, senior IDF officials have advised cutting back the volume of humanitarian aid entering the Strip.

Data recently presented in closed-door security briefings and later reported by Ynet paints a stark picture of how the aid is being used. “The population in Gaza could survive with much less. 70% of the trucks belong to the private sector, which Hamas taxes twice, imposing a 15-25% tax on every truck of food, fuel, or medicine, and an additional tax when the goods are sold in the market. Hamas is making tens of millions of shekels a day, and the coffers are only shrinking.”

The report also notes that Qatar, identified as Hamas’s primary financial backer, insisted that thousands of aid trucks continue to enter Gaza each week as a condition of its involvement, effectively ruling out any consideration of stopping the aid flow.

A prolonged stretch of severe winter weather has turned deadly in New York City, with at least 10 people found dead outdoors over the past week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday as frigid conditions continue to blanket the region.

“At least 10 New Yorkers have tragically lost their lives after being found outdoors,” the mayor said at a storm briefing from City Hall.

“We don’t know if every case will be ruled hypothermia, but we need every New Yorker to be on alert, looking out for their neighbors.”

The dangerous cold is expected to persist for days. Gov. Kathy Hochul has described the weather system as an “Arctic siege on our state,” and forecasters say there is little relief in sight. According to AccuWeather, daytime temperatures are forecast to struggle past 20 degrees through the weekend, while overnight lows are expected to fall into the single digits and below zero.

Officials say wind chills will make conditions even more punishing, marking what they describe as the coldest period New York has experienced in nearly ten years. Subzero wind chills are expected Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with temperatures potentially feeling as cold as minus 10 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Wednesday morning, warning residents of the serious risks posed by exposure. “Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.”

In response, Mamdani said the city is stepping up emergency measures during what he called “life-threatening cold.” Outreach teams will be deployed more frequently, partnerships with community organizations will be expanded, and hospitals are being asked to limit overnight discharges in an effort to keep vulnerable individuals indoors.

“The city remains in Code Blue, which means that we’re intensifying outreach, that we’re conducting round-the-clock checks and have loosened traditional shelter intake procedures to accommodate as many New Yorkers as possible,” the mayor said. “311 calls are being rerouted to 911.”

Since Jan. 19, the city has moved nearly 500 unhoused individuals into transitional housing, Mamdani added.

Residents seeking help or information can find a list of warming centers on the NYC.gov portal and additional cold-weather resources on a separate NYC.gov page. Those needing assistance locating heat are urged to call 311.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] The symbolic clock at Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv was stopped at 5:35 p.m. on Monday, marking the first time it ceased since it began running at the start of the war.

The event was organized by the Families Headquarters for the Return of the Hostages and followed the return of Ran Gvili, the final hostage who had remained in Gaza.

The ceremony opened with the entry of the code that brought the clock to a halt. It then continued with remarks from Shira Gvili, sister of Ran Gvili; Michel Illouz, father of Guy Illouz, who was killed while in captivity; Yael Adar, mother of Tamir Adar, who was killed defending Kibbutz Nir Oz; Segev Kalfon, who was abducted from the Nova music festival; and Malachi Shem Tov, father of released hostage Omer Shem Tov.

Captivity survivor Rom Braslavski told those gathered that the end of the countdown did not mean an end to struggle. “The clock may have officially stopped, but it hasn’t really stopped. We can officially say that one war has ended and that we have no hostages in Gaza. But now we’re moving from one war to another, much harder war: the war of rehabilitation, which is also very difficult to endure. I want to wish all those wounded by this war, whether soldiers, hostages, or myself, that we succeed in emerging from this cursed war, in rehabilitating ourselves, and doing everything necessary to restore our souls to what they once were.”
“I wish us all to complete this rehabilitation as we should. We’ve been through everything, and we’ll get through this too.”

Another captivity survivor, Segev Kalfon, reflected on seeing the clock while still held in Gaza. “I first saw this clock in footage that reached us in Gaza: a clock counting the hostages’ time not just in days but in minutes and seconds. That’s exactly how we felt, how every minute was an eternity and every second could be the last second we’d breathe.”
“When I saw photos of you from the square, standing here with our pictures, supporting our families and calling out in the clearest way ‘Until the last hostage,’ you were our light and hope. You were our strength, and no less than that, you were the strength of our families. For me, this is the time to say thank you. Thank you for being here for us. Special thanks I must give to the Hostages Families Forum. I see the connection the families have to this incredible place.”

Kalfon said the moment marked a turning point but not a conclusion. “Stopping the clock is a defining moment, but it’s not the end. It marks the completion of one critical and major phase in which all 255 hostages are no longer held by the abhorrent Hamas and its affiliates. Now 87 families of fallen hostages, including 46 who were kidnapped alive like me and murdered in captivity, these families, together with all of Israel, can turn to begin their rehabilitation process alongside us, the captivity survivors. Because this is grief that touches all of us, everyone who lost friends and brothers since October 7th,” Kalfon said.

Captivity survivor Elkana Bohbot addressed the crowd with gratitude, saying, “I have to tell you that you are the foundation of Israeli society. You are truly this nation’s soul. Really. I’m moved to stand here. Thanks to them, I received a photo of my son inside the tunnel. Thanks to you, we received hope, we received light, and we received faith that no one gave up on us. Ever. I love you all.”

Malachi Shem Tov, whose son Omer was released from captivity, spoke about the weight of the long countdown. “For 844 days, the clock kept running, counting every day, every minute, every second since our world stopped on October 7th. Thank God we can finally stop counting.”
“Thank you to all the people around the world, across every nation, who stood with us and raised our voices. Thank you to the Jewish Federations, the Jewish communities who supported us since day one, and the people of Israel who proved that this is our home. Thank you, President Trump, for making this day possible.”
“From the time we founded the Families Forum, we knew it wouldn’t be a happy ending for all the families. It is a bittersweet ending to our struggle to bring them all home. All the hostages have come home. We will always remember those who lost their lives on October 7th and after. We must never forget what happened on October 7th.”

Shira Gvili, speaking about her brother Ran, whose burial was scheduled for the following day, described the meaning of the moment. “This clock can be stopped and we can return and walk, breathe with relief, mourn, and tomorrow bring Ran to his eternal rest. In the last 844 days, I felt every minute, every split second in longing and anticipation for Ran. The world kept moving, but I wanted it to stop with us. And now he’s here, not as we wanted, hoped, and prayed, but he’s here. He and 86 other fallen hostages have been returned to Israel for burial, and he is the last.”
“This square is a special place. This square is so much more than asphalt. This square is the people, it’s you. Fellow hostage family members who embraced me warmly, staff and volunteers of the Hostages Families Forum who never gave up until the last hostage.”

Captivity survivor Yosef Haim Ohana said the presence of supporters gave meaning to survival. “If they had told me then that I would stand here when this clock stops, I would have spent those entire two years smiling. But not because I would have known I’d finish this alive. Rather because I would have known there would be people who would be here until the end and wouldn’t give up. Thank you for not giving up. It’s all thanks to you.”

Michel Illouz, whose son Guy was killed in captivity, said the clock’s silence would not end his grief. “Those seconds, days, and hours that we’re now finishing counting will never erase the hands of thought and sorrow for me and 45 other families whose loved ones were murdered in captivity. I will never be able to stop thinking and calculating the number of days that maybe Guy would have returned alive if an earlier deal had been made. Maybe then they could have come home alive. I will never be able to erase the image of my parting from my firstborn son Guy, who returned as a bag of bones. Unfortunately, I will have to live alongside the infinite pain with my enormous loss and ours as a nation.”

Yael Adar, mother of Tamir Adar, said the end of the countdown closed one chapter but opened another reckoning. “Today we turn off the clock counting the days that living and fallen hostages were held in Hamas captivity. We turn off the clock at the end of an inhuman chapter in which we fought for the return of the hostages, for social values of mutual responsibility, solidarity, concern for the helpless, and not leaving anyone behind.”
“But I will never stop counting the massacre, the lack of protection, the abandonment, and the breaking of the covenant between citizen and state. I will count these days until the end of my life, with every breath in which my Tamir is missing from this world.”
“On the day we stop the clock with emotion, with the return of the last hostage, I ask to remember the pain and loss of thousands of families who deserve a great embrace and eternal remembrance of the greatest failure in the state’s history. We must do everything to prevent the next failure. We turn off the clock with a prayer that we never have to turn it on again.”

WATCH:

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu responded to questions about the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza initiative, saying Israel’s political and security priorities would be fully safeguarded as the plan moved forward.

He said the government was concentrating on what he described as the final objectives of the war, stating, “Now we are focusing on completing the two remaining missions: dismantling Hamas’s weapons and demilitarizing Gaza of arms and tunnels.”

Netanyahu said he had reached a clear understanding with President Trump on how those goals would be achieved, warning that Israel would not compromise on outcomes. “As I agreed with President Trump… there are only two possibilities: either this will be done the easy way or it will be done the hard way, but in any case, it will happen,” he said. He rejected suggestions that Gaza could be rebuilt before disarmament, adding, “I am already hearing the statements that we will allow Gaza’s reconstruction before demilitarization. That will not happen.”

The prime minister also dismissed reports that foreign forces might be deployed in the enclave. “I am hearing that we will bring Turkish soldiers and Qatari soldiers into Gaza. That too will not happen,” he said.

Addressing claims that Israel would permit the creation of a Palestinian state in Gaza, Netanyahu spoke forcefully, saying, “I am hearing that I will allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza. That did not happen, and it will not happen.” He emphasized his long-standing position on the issue, stating, “I think all of you know that the one who repeatedly stopped the establishment of a Palestinian state is me, together with my colleagues in the governments I have led. Even today and tomorrow, we will not allow this.”

Netanyahu concluded by reiterating Israel’s security doctrine for the region, saying, “Israel will maintain security control over the entire area from the Jordan River to the sea, and that applies to the Gaza Strip as well.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump said Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will remain in her position, rejecting suggestions that she might resign as criticism mounts over her handling of recent deadly encounters involving federal agents.

Asked directly on the South Lawn of the White House whether Noem would step down, the president was unequivocal.

“No,” he told reporters.

“I think she’s doing a very good job.”

Noem has come under intense scrutiny following two fatal incidents involving federal officers. In public remarks, she described Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old armed nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, as domestic terrorists, language that sparked backlash across the political spectrum.

While the administration has since softened its tone, Noem will remain in office following an extended meeting with Trump late Monday evening at the White House, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

At the same time, Trump announced a series of moves that were widely viewed as shifting operational control away from Noem. On Monday, he revealed that border czar Tom Homan was being dispatched to Minnesota to manage the situation firsthand. Separately, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, known for his aggressive leadership style, was instructed to return home from his post in the state.

Although Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller echoed Noem’s description of the two individuals, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to draw a clearer line between the president and that characterization.

During Monday’s press briefing, Leavitt was asked whether Trump agreed with labeling Pretti a domestic terrorist.

“I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way,” she said. “However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”

Even as the administration stepped back from the rhetoric, Trump publicly reaffirmed his confidence in his senior team. He praised Noem’s performance and included Miller on his trip to Iowa, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks focused on the economy.

Before leaving Washington, Trump also offered a positive assessment of Homan’s efforts in Minnesota.

“I hear that’s going very well,” he said, referring to Homan’s discussions with Gov. Tim Walz.

Homan’s assignment was intended to stabilize the situation both on the ground and in the political arena, as concerns spread within Republican circles over Noem’s response to the deaths and the scale of force used by federal authorities.

Trump also addressed the investigation into Pretti’s death, saying he expects a thorough and fair review and plans to monitor it closely.

“We’re doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself,” he said Tuesday while departing the White House for Iowa.

The fatal shooting of Pretti, which occurred Saturday during a confrontation with federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, is now under review by multiple agencies. The Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are each conducting their own examinations of the incident.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to personally appear in court and explain why he should not be held in contempt, escalating a clash over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities.

In a rare and sharply worded directive issued late Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz instructed ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to come before the court “and show cause why he should not be held in contempt.”

The order underscores growing frustration from the bench over what Schiltz described as ICE’s repeated failure to comply with judicial release orders tied to Operation Metro Surge, a stepped-up enforcement initiative underway in Minneapolis and St. Paul. According to Politico, the judge stated flatly that “the court’s patience is at an end.”

Schiltz, who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, ordered Lyons to appear in person on Friday to address why ICE did not release a detainee who had been ordered freed on Jan. 15 and instead kept him in custody for weeks afterward.

In his ruling, the judge accused ICE of repeatedly disregarding decisions issued by multiple Minnesota judges, leading to individuals being detained longer than courts authorized or transferred to other states in what he suggested may have been an effort to sidestep judicial oversight.

The administration’s aggressive enforcement posture has triggered a surge of emergency lawsuits from immigrants who allege they are being held unlawfully.

Minnesota federal judges have frequently ruled in favor of those plaintiffs, ordering releases and warning that the practices raise serious due process concerns.

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, has likewise criticized the administration, accusing it of pushing the legal system “to the breaking point.”

Supporters of the administration counter that judges are overstepping their role, arguing that the courts are being used to block immigration enforcement powers granted by Congress and grounded in the Constitution.

Operation Metro Surge was launched under President Donald Trump as part of a renewed effort to reverse years of weak enforcement and sanctuary-style policies adopted by Democrat-led states and cities.

The legal fight has sharpened amid heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of anti-ICE protester Alex Pretti during a federal operation, an incident critics have cited in calls to shut down enforcement actions altogether.

Several judges are now considering broader lawsuits that could significantly restrict or even suspend ICE activity in Minnesota.

The dispute between Schiltz and the administration has also spilled into related cases.

Earlier this month, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an unusual request from the Justice Department seeking approval for additional arrests connected to a disruptive anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church.

That demonstration, which interrupted a Christian worship service, drew national attention after former CNN anchor Don Lemon was linked to the protest.

Schiltz denied prosecutors’ emergency request to detain two organizers accused of conspiring to violate civil rights, though he placed them under strict release conditions.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have said enforcement efforts will continue, emphasizing that interference with religious services and intimidation of worshippers will not be tolerated.

The intensifying showdown reflects a broader struggle between the Trump administration’s law-and-order agenda and a judiciary that has shown increasing willingness to intervene in immigration enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities were already familiar with Alex Pretti before Border Patrol officers fatally shot him in Minneapolis last weekend, and he had suffered a broken rib during a violent encounter with immigration agents roughly a week earlier, according to a report.

Pretti, who worked as an ICU nurse, told a friend that he witnessed ICE agents chasing what he believed was a family on foot during that earlier episode and stopped his car to intervene, CNN reported.

According to the source, Pretti pulled over, began yelling at the agents, and blew a whistle, prompting five officers to tackle him to the ground.

The friend told CNN that Pretti later said one of the agents leaned on his back during the scuffle, leaving him with a broken rib.

“That day, he thought he was going to die,” the source said, noting that agents ultimately released Pretti at the scene.

CNN reported that federal immigration officials had compiled information on Pretti in recent weeks, along with details on other anti-ICE protesters active in Minneapolis.

A memo circulated this month to agents deployed to the city instructed them to “capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protestors, etc., so we can capture it all in one consolidated form,” according to the network.

While Pretti’s identity was known to federal agents, a source said it remains unclear whether his details were entered into or shared through the new intake system.

Authorities also have not determined whether Pretti recognized the agents he confronted on Saturday, or whether they recognized him from the earlier incident.

Video footage appears to show agents forcing Pretti to the ground before one officer removes a firearm from his waistband and another agent fatally shoots him.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied maintaining a database of suspected domestic terrorists.

“We do, of course, monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN, referring to a separate case involving a federal agent in Maine.

FBI Director Kash Patel has separately said his agency is probing encrypted Signal group chats that activists reportedly use to share information about ICE operations.

Such groups “create a scenario that illegally entraps and puts law enforcement in harm’s way,” Director Patel warned during an appearance on a conservative podcast on Monday.

{Matzav.com}

As friction with Iran continues, the US military has announced the start of a major air exercise in the Middle East aimed at showcasing its ability to rapidly project and sustain airpower across the region.

US Central Command, through its air arm, the Ninth Air Force, confirmed that Air Forces Central will carry out what it described as a “multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility.”

According to the command, “This exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CENTCOM. It will serve as a way for AFCENT to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations.”

AFCENT said the training will include US forces spreading out to a number of contingency sites, where they will “deploy teams to multiple contingency locations and validate rapid set-up, launch and recovery procedures with small, efficient support packages,” while also stressing that all actions will be carried out “with host-nation approval and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, emphasizing safety, precision and respect for sovereignty.”

The exercise follows an announcement made a day earlier by the United States Central Command that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, along with its escorting vessels, had reached the Middle East.

With the carrier strike group now in theater, the United States has significantly expanded its offensive and defensive capabilities in the region, providing President Donald Trump with additional military options as Iran’s regime faces international scrutiny over the killing of protesters.

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania on Tuesday publicly pressed President Donald Trump to dismiss Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of mishandling immigration enforcement actions tied to recent events in Minnesota.

In a post on X, the Democratic senator demanded Noem’s immediate removal, directly addressing the president and issuing a warning about repeating past leadership decisions. “.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem,” Fetterman wrote, cautioning Trump not to repeat what he described as “the mistake President Biden made” by retaining what he called a “grossly incompetent” DHS secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, during deadly and controversial federal operations.

Fetterman’s remarks come as the national immigration debate intensifies following two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, including the death of Alex Pretti. The incidents coincided with the deployment of thousands of ICE, Border Patrol, and other DHS personnel under what the department has labeled “Operation Metro Surge,” which DHS has described as the largest immigration enforcement action ever undertaken.

The senator’s call to fire Noem reflects broader criticism from progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups. In recent days, several on the left have demanded her resignation or impeachment, along with disciplinary action against senior Border Patrol officials, after the shootings triggered protests across Minnesota and in other states.

Opponents of Noem contend that she has aggressively enforced federal immigration policies long opposed by Democrats but never overturned by legislation. They argue that such operations, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions, should be reevaluated rather than escalated, warning that the current approach risks further unrest.

Republicans and conservative voices counter that congressional Republicans and GOP leaders at the state level have largely supported the enforcement surge. They argue that sanctuary policies expose federal agents to greater danger and leave the federal government with little choice but to take decisive action.

President Trump has continued to defend Noem and DHS efforts aimed at apprehending violent criminal aliens, but he is facing pressure from multiple sides. While some Republicans support the enforcement push, others have raised concerns about the optics and consequences of the Minneapolis operations and have called for independent reviews to assess tactics and accountability.

At the same time, the White House has indicated that it is reassessing DHS priorities following internal evaluations, with an emphasis on border security and criminal enforcement moving forward.

Despite Fetterman’s public demand that Noem be fired, she is expected to remain in her post for now, though her leadership is under intense scrutiny as criticism grows over her forceful enforcement strategy and public comments that have fueled opposition.

{Matzav.com}