Matzav

Tefillos are requested on behalf of Rav Berel Wein, the noted rov, author, historian, and educator, who is currently facing a serious infection and is in need of a refuah sheleimah.

Rabbi Wein, a veteran figure in the rabbinate and a beloved teacher to thousands, has devoted his life to harbatzas haTorah and preserving the legacy of Klal Yisroel through his prolific work in Jewish history and education.

Born in Chicago into a family of Litvishe rabbonim, Rabbi Wein received semicha from Hebrew Theological College, where he learned under some of the foremost rabbonim of the time. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt College in Chicago, followed by a law degree from DePaul University Law School, and later received a Doctorate from Hebrew Theological College.

After a successful career in law, Rabbi Wein entered the rabbanus in 1964, accepting the pulpit of Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, Florida. He served there until 1972, before assuming the position of mara d’asra of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey, New York, a position he held with distinction for 24 years. During this time, he also served as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union (OU), and later as Rabbinic Administrator of its Kashrus Division.

In 1977, he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, New York, establishing both a high school and a beis medrash division, and served as rosh yeshiva until 1997. That year, Rabbi Wein and his wife, Rebbetzin Yocheved Wein—daughter of Rav and Rebbetzin Leizer Levin, rov of Detroit—moved to Yerushalayim. There, Rabbi Wein joined Beit Knesset Hanasi and, in 2002, was appointed its mara d’asra.

Widely regarded as one of the premier Jewish historians of our time, Rabbi Wein has authored numerous seminal works on Jewish history and has delivered thousands of shiurim across the globe. His voice and vision have shaped generations of Jews seeking a deeper understanding of their past and a more meaningful connection to their heritage.

In recognition of his lifelong contributions, Rabbi Wein received the prestigious Torah Prize Award from Machon Harav Frank in Yerushalayim for his impact on Torah education and the spread of Judaism throughout the world.

All are asked to daven for the complete and speedy recovery of Dov ben Esther.

{Matzav.com}

The Dushinsky community in Har Yonah continues its rapid growth as construction begins on the second phase of its Chassidishe enclave, with dozens of new housing units now underway.

The Har Yonah neighborhood, located in the northern city of Nof HaGalil, has become an attractive option for many chassidim and avreichim seeking more affordable housing amid the ongoing housing crisis in central Israel. In recent years, families from Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, and other major urban centers have relocated to peripheral cities such as Tiveria, Afula, Kiryat Gat, and Har Yonah. These communities have responded by investing in robust religious and communal infrastructure.

Established in 5781 (2021) at the initiative of the Dushinsky Rebbe, the Dushinsky development in Har Yonah already houses dozens of Chassidishe families. The first phase of the project included 120 housing units, which were fully occupied by Cheshvan 5784. Alongside the residential expansion, a complete Torah infrastructure was built, including a Talmud Torah, a girls’ school, a kollel, a mikvah, and a central beis medrash.

Marketing for Phase Two began this past Adar, aiming to add another 100 residential units. Construction has now begun, and the Dushinsky Housing Committee is actively planning Phase Three to meet increasing demand.

Har Yonah is steadily developing into a vibrant chareidi hub, attracting communities such as Belz, Chernobyl, Toldos Aharon, and other groups affiliated with the Eida HaChareidis.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he intends to overhaul the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, pledging to address what he describes as serious flaws in the system designed to assist those harmed by vaccines.

Kennedy, who has a long record of skepticism toward vaccines and previously worked as a lawyer for vaccine injury plaintiffs, took to X to slam the program’s operations. He accused the compensation system and its associated “Vaccine Court” of being plagued by corruption and delays.

“I will not allow the VICP to continue to ignore its mandate and fail its mission of quickly and fairly compensating vaccine-injured individuals,” he wrote. He also said he was collaborating with Attorney General Pam Bondi, adding, “Together, we will steer the Vaccine Court back to its original congressional intent.”

He argued that the way the system is set up unfairly tilts the process against petitioners, pointing out that the Department of Health and Human Services—his own department—is the opposing party in these cases rather than the vaccine manufacturers.

If implemented, this reform would mark another bold move by Kennedy in his effort to redefine how the federal government manages vaccine, drug, and food oversight.

Back in June, he dismissed every member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of 17 vaccine specialists, and replaced them with seven new appointees, several of whom share his views on vaccines.

Among his newly chosen advisors is one individual who, according to court records, has received substantial compensation for serving as an expert witness in lawsuits targeting Merck’s Gardasil vaccine. Kennedy himself was a key organizer of large-scale legal efforts aimed at Merck regarding the same vaccine.

He is also reportedly planning to dismiss the entire U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which plays a key role in deciding which preventative services insurers must cover. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the situation, said that Kennedy has not made a final decision about the fate of the 16-member panel. An HHS spokesperson confirmed that no official action had yet been taken.

Kennedy has long promoted distrust of vaccines, often challenging mainstream medical views and spreading controversial claims. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, he has pushed a debunked theory linking vaccines to autism.

He has also asserted that the measles vaccine includes cells from aborted fetuses and questioned the effectiveness of the mumps shot—statements he made as the country faces its most severe measles outbreak in a generation.

{Matzav.com}

A horrifying mass shooting unfolded Monday evening at a luxury skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, leaving at least five people dead — including a police officer — and several more injured before the gunman turned the weapon on himself, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities identified the shooter as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, who stormed the 44-story high-rise around 6:30 p.m. during the evening commute. The building is home to major tenants like Blackstone and the NFL headquarters. Armed with a rifle, Tamura opened fire in a shocking attack that sent panic through the tower, sources told The Post.

A person who witnessed the chaos from the first floor described the scene, saying, “it sounded like a barrage of shots …Like an automatic weapon. Like a high-capacity weapon.”

Surveillance images captured the suspect walking casually through the entry plaza of the Park Avenue tower, carrying an assault rifle moments before the bloodshed began.

Law enforcement officials warned that the number of casualties could rise as officers continued to comb through the building after the rampage.

One police officer was killed after being shot on-site and later dying at the hospital, according to sources. Two civilians were also among those hit by bullets, including one reported to be in critical condition.

Tamura ultimately holed himself up on the 33rd floor, where police later found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Other victims were also discovered on that floor, sources added.

“At this time, the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated in a post on X.

An additional photo provided to The NY Post showed Tamura’s lifeless body sprawled on the 33rd floor, his weapon nearby.

Authorities have yet to confirm which company occupies that floor of the building.

The slain police officer was assigned to the 47th Precinct but had been working a private security detail for Rudin Properties, the building’s owner, at the time of the incident, according to sources.

Outside the building, as the situation unfolded, two individuals were taken into custody. One of them reportedly shouted, “Free Palestine, I’m not the shooter,” while being arrested.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that over 100 migrants held at the facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” have now been deported.

DeSantis praised the swift efforts of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which repurposed the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility in the Everglades into a central processing and removal site for individuals in the country illegally. The governor had previously indicated that deportation operations were already in progress, emphasizing that most of those held are young adult males.

“These are folks — and a lot of them have of criminal records. But that’s what’s happening here, and I think it’s been very effective now,” he said.

He later confirmed that 100 of the individuals detained and processed at the site have officially been deported, pointing out that the Department of Homeland Security has been primarily responsible for overseeing the removals.

“There’s an aggressive… deportation schedule,” DeSantis said. “That’s what you’re seeing is starting to occur here down at Alligator Alcatraz.”

According to the Washington Post, Garrett Ripa, field director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, said the individuals deported had been “illegally present in the state of Florida.” Ripa made the statement while speaking at the facility, with the Everglades in the background.

The report also noted that the detention center is currently holding between 750 and 900 people.

Florida Attorney General James Uthemeier’s office released details about some of the detainees, including individuals with severe criminal backgrounds. Among them was a known MS-13 gang member with the alias “Satan,” as well as a Cuban national linked to a brutal murder and arson.

As reported by Breitbart News: “For example, one inmate at Alligator Alcatraz is an MS-13 member named Oscar ‘Satan’ Sanchez. His rap sheet includes assault and conspiracy to commit murder in New York. A Guatemalan migrant by the name of Luis Donaldo Corado is also at the facility and has a criminal history that includes ‘burglary of an occupied dwelling, forced entry, and voyeurism.’ Eddy Lopez Jemot, hailing from Cuba, has a criminal history that includes the following: ‘Arson, assault — arrested for cutting the throat of an elderly woman in Key Largo, FL and lighting her home on fire to conceal the evidence.’”

{Matzav.com}

Reb Dovid Hofstedter, nosi of Dirshu, discusses the visit of US Ambassador Mike Huckabee to Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

WATCH:

Israeli authorities are pointing fingers at Qatar for spearheading Hamas’ narrative regarding a so-called “famine in Gaza,” a storyline that has increasingly gained momentum on the global stage, Channel 12 News reported Monday evening.

This messaging effort casts Israel as the primary cause of a humanitarian food crisis in Gaza and is being amplified by major international news networks. Some Israeli outlets have also begun repeating aspects of the Hamas-led campaign, which includes emotionally charged images of emaciated children meant to bolster claims of mass starvation.

In a move to counter the growing narrative, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a rebuttal earlier today, debunking Hamas’ allegations and addressing specific claims surrounding a 5-year-old Gazan child, Osama al-Rakab, who has been prominently featured in the campaign.

One particular image of al-Rakab, which has been widely circulated online and by global media platforms, portrays the child in a severely malnourished state, with claims attributing his condition to starvation caused by Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Contrary to these assertions, COGAT clarified that Osama’s condition is not the result of war-related deprivation. The agency explained that the boy suffers from a serious inherited illness and that his health problems are unrelated to any conflict-related shortages. Osama has since left Gaza with his family and is currently undergoing medical treatment abroad.

“The Facts: Osama suffers from a serious genetic illness unrelated to the war,” COGAT tweeted. “On June 12, we actively coordinated Osama’s exit from Gaza with his mother and brother through the Ramon airport.”

“He is now receiving treatment in Italy.”

COGAT added a warning against the misuse of such emotionally powerful images, emphasizing the need to verify facts before forming opinions. “Tragic images rightfully stir strong emotions, but when they’re misused to fuel hatred and lies, they do more harm than good. Don’t let compassion be exploited for propaganda. Check the facts before parroting blame.”

{Matzav.com}

Harvard University may end up paying as much as $500 million to resolve a standoff with the Trump administration, according to two individuals familiar with the matter who spoke to The New York Post. The potential settlement comes after prolonged tensions surrounding the revocation of federal funding and research grants totaling billions.

Last week, Trump remarked that Harvard “wants to settle,” referencing a recent agreement with Columbia University, which had its federal funding reinstated after agreeing to pay a $200 million penalty for civil rights infractions.

Earlier this year, the administration rescinded $2.6 billion in federal funds, accusing Harvard of failing to safeguard Jewish students, faculty, and staff from antisemitic behavior on campus—an alleged violation of federal civil rights law.

Neither Harvard nor the administration has disclosed the exact details of the ongoing talks, and no definitive timeline has been given. Still, in June, Trump stated that a resolution could be reached with Harvard “over the next week or so.”

Despite the ongoing discussions, Harvard has not dropped its legal challenge against the federal government, arguing that the loss of funding could derail faculty careers and force the closure of important research facilities in Cambridge.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, however, voiced optimism that an agreement could be reached. “We’re hoping that Harvard will come to the table,” McMahon said on NewsNation’s Morning in America on Thursday. “We’re already seeing other universities that are taking these measures before investigation or before our coming in to talk to them.”

{Matzav.com}

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United Airlines has resumed their ‘most hated’ policy of charging solo passengers more. Known as the ‘Single Tax’ Rule, an Investigation by Thrifty Traveler found that United Airlines charged single passengers more than those traveling in groups by a price premium of at least 8 percent.

The investigation searched for flights for one passenger, and compared the prices after changing the filters for two passengers or more. They saw ticket price per person drop significantly for groups than for individuals, keeping all other factors constant. Other prominent airlines are also under fire for having implemented a similar policy in the past, such as Delta and American Airlines. But after the initial investigation caused backlash from critics,

Delta and United Airlines promised to repeal the hated rule—until United quietly brought it back.

Critics have argued that the price premium unfairly targets individuals who fly alone, especially for business purposes. This policy change adds to the controversies United Airlines has found itself in during recent months, including selling customer data and reducing the number of flights available, all while blaming the cuts on customers for not traveling enough. Read more at Daily Mail.

{Matzav.com}

During a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, President Donald Trump launched sharp criticism at London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, labeling him “a nasty person.”

At the press conference held in Scotland, Trump was questioned about any plans to stop in London during his upcoming visit to the UK. He replied bluntly, “I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the mayor of London… a nasty person.” Starmer stepped in, interjecting in Khan’s defense, saying, “He’s a friend of mine, actually.”

After Trump’s remarks, Khan’s office issued a brief statement saying the mayor is “delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world.”

In addition to domestic issues, the conversation between Trump and Starmer focused heavily on the conflict in Gaza. Speaking on the need for humanitarian aid, Trump said, “You have a lot of starving people. The US gave $60 million just a couple of weeks ago; it’s a lot of money. No other nation gave money. We gave 60 million, and no one even said thank you.” He added that he expects other countries will contribute funding soon.

Referring to media coverage, Trump dismissed reports downplaying the hunger crisis in Gaza. “Those children look very hungry,” he said. “But we’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food.” Starmer followed up by emphasizing the emotional impact of the footage being broadcast. He said viewers are “revolted” by what they’re witnessing and expressed gratitude to Trump “for leading the efforts to reach a ceasefire and getting more aid in.”

When asked for his thoughts on whether Israel had taken sufficient steps to avoid harming civilians in Gaza, Trump remarked, “nobody’s done anything great over there, the whole place is a mess.”

Still, Trump placed ultimate responsibility on Hamas for the conflict. “They did a horrible thing and they paid a big price,” he said. “I always said, when you get down to the last 20 or ten, they won’t release them because that’s like their shield; it’s very unfair. So something’s going to have to be done. They (Hamas) were really unwilling to talk. We got a lot out, and now, possibly, the fight will have to be a little bit different. I told Bibi that you’re going to have to do it a different way.”

He wrapped up his remarks by expressing cautious optimism about ending the fighting: “A ceasefire is possible, but you have to end it.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned on Monday that President Donald Trump’s latest stance toward Russia was pushing the two countries closer to open conflict.

In a post on X, Medvedev stated, “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his [Trump’s] own country.”

Earlier that day, President Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not taking action to stop the conflict in Ukraine. Trump announced that he was shortening his timeline for a negotiated peace deal, reducing it from 50 days to just 10 or 12.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Monday, making it clear that if Iran attempts to rebuild the nuclear infrastructure that was targeted in last month’s American strikes, he will authorize a new round of attacks.

Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, Trump delivered the warning while discussing ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Tehran, while denying any intention to develop atomic weapons, has remained defiant in its commitment to continue enriching uranium domestically, despite the recent destruction of three of its nuclear sites.

Addressing the media, Trump said Iran has been displaying alarming behavior, and he emphasized that any movement toward restarting nuclear activities would be swiftly countered.

“We wiped out their nuclear possibilities. They can start again. If they do, we’ll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

A 54-year-old woman was lightly injured Monday evening after being struck by what appears to have been a stray bullet while in the women’s section of the Kosel.

Volunteers from United Hatzalah rushed to the scene and provided the woman with initial medical treatment in the Kosel plaza before evacuating her in light condition via a mobile intensive care unit to the hospital.

According to initial reports, the woman was sitting in the women’s section when she suddenly heard a loud sound in her ear and realized she had been wounded. A bullet casing—without a shell—was found nearby.

Paramedics Shuki Becker and Zachi Yahav, along with medics Moshe Weiner, Akiva Angel, and Dovid Milgrom of United Hatzalah, stated: “We administered first aid in the Kosel plaza and then evacuated her in stable condition to the hospital for further care. At this stage, her condition is defined as light.”

The police confirmed the incident and announced the launch of an investigation. “Officers from the David precinct in the Yerushalayim district have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury of a woman in the Old City of Yerushalayim, apparently due to stray gunfire,” a police statement said. “As a result of the incident, the woman was taken in light condition (according to medical sources) to the hospital for treatment.

“Officers from the David precinct and forensic investigators from the Yerushalayim district arrived at the scene and began collecting evidence and examining the circumstances of the incident.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In light of a serious measles outbreak within the chareidi community and the worsening condition of unvaccinated children currently in intensive care units, the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis has issued an urgent call for parents to vaccinate their children without delay. The Badatz emphasized that vaccinating is a matter of pikuach nefesh and warned that further delay could result in tragedy.

At an emergency meeting held Monday, leading physicians, medical activists, and members of the Badatz convened to review alarming data about the surge in measles cases among unvaccinated chareidi children. Several of these children are now hospitalized in life-threatening condition, prompting the Badatz to issue a public kol koreh urging immediate action.

In their letter, the rabbanim wrote: “Medical askanim and doctors treating children have approached us regarding the recent outbreak of measles among children who were not vaccinated, some of whom are now in critical condition, may Hashem send them a full recovery.”

They continued, “First and foremost, we must strengthen our commitment to the ways of our ancestors, increasing our prayers and supplications on behalf of the healthy that they not fall ill, and for the sick that they be healed.”

The Badatz clearly expressed its ruling: “We hereby state our position that those who have not yet vaccinated their children must do so without delay, in accordance with the guidance of askanim and in consultation with physicians. One must fulfill the command of ‘venishmartem me’od lenafshoseichem’—take great care for your lives—in order to stop the spread of this illness, Heaven forbid. This is a matter of pikuach nefesh. May Hashem remove all illness from among His people.”

As previously reported by Matzav.com, two toddlers—a one-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy—are in critical condition at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital due to severe complications from measles. Both children are currently connected to ECMO machines, used when a patient’s heart and lungs are unable to function adequately on their own.

The one-year-old was rushed to the hospital over the weekend with acute respiratory distress and was quickly diagnosed with measles. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, necessitating a transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit and connection to ECMO.

The two-year-old boy had initially been treated at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center but was transferred to Hadassah due to a severe secondary infection—pneumonia caused by pneumococcus bacteria—developing in the wake of the measles. He, too, is now relying on ECMO.

Hospitals in Yerushalayim report a sharp rise in admissions related to measles and warn that the illness presents a serious danger to life.

According to a weekend announcement by the Ministry of Health, 245 measles cases have been identified in Israel since the outbreak began three months ago. Of those, 91 are currently active cases—nearly half of them diagnosed within the past week. The majority of the recent cases come from Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh.

{Matzav.com Israel}

As Israel bakes under a sweltering heatwave on Monday, fears are intensifying over the well-being of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. Family members of the captives have sounded the alarm, warning that the dangerous spike in temperature could have deadly consequences for their loved ones.

In response to the oppressive heat gripping the country, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered a temporary suspension of military training. Representatives of the hostage families stressed that this is the second consecutive summer their relatives are suffering in captivity. Many of the captives are thought to be trapped in sealed, stifling spaces, likely without proper airflow or access to clean drinking water.

A new emergency bulletin from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum’s medical team paints a grim picture. It warns that the lethal combination of heat, dehydration, and poor ventilation could bring about rapid medical collapse. The report further notes that the conditions may impair brain function and emotional regulation, not only for the hostages but potentially for their captors as well, worsening an already dire situation.

The findings reveal that those being kept in hot, cramped, and underground environments face severe medical dangers due to a lack of fresh air, fluids, and nutrition. The report also cautions about a heightened likelihood of disease outbreaks due to poor sanitation, spoiled water, and vitamin deficiencies, all of which could compound the suffering.

Former hostages have previously reported suffering extreme physical effects from being held during times of severe weather. Some have continued to deal with health complications long after being freed. The situation is believed to be even more severe for those who remain in captivity over 660 days since their abduction.

The document raises additional concerns about the deceased hostages as well. It warns that in Gaza’s tunnel network, where high heat and humidity persist without proper cooling, bodies are decomposing rapidly. This could make future identification far more difficult and reduce the likelihood of recovering remains for dignified burial.

Prof. Hagai Levine, who heads the Forum’s medical task force, stressed the urgency of the moment. “Fifty hostages are being held under extreme conditions in Gaza. We’ve long warned of the cumulative deterioration in their health. The extreme heat could be a tipping point. Any further delay in bringing them home increases the risk of losing the living and the disappearance of the dead beneath Gaza’s rubble,” he said. “There must be an immediate deal to return the hostages—both the living for rehabilitation, and the dead for burial. They are out of time.”

Speaking earlier on Monday alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the hostage crisis and pointed to Hamas’s use of captives as leverage.

“That’s an ongoing process. Hamas has become very difficult to deal with in the last couple of days because they don’t want to give up those last [hostages], because they think as long as they have them, they have protection,” Trump said. “I’m speaking to [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, and we are coming up with various plans. It’s a difficult situation.”

“If they [Hamas] didn’t have the hostages, things would go very quickly… we know where they have them in some cases,” he added. “You don’t want to go riding roughshod over that area because that means those hostages will be killed. Now, some people say, ‘Well, that’s the price you pay,’ but we don’t want to say that. And I don’t think the people of Israel want to say that either.”

{Matzav.com}

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On Sunday, the Boyaner Rebbe became a great-grandfather with the birth of a daughter to his grandson, Rabbi Avrohom Dovid Eichenstein. The newborn is also a granddaughter of the Zidichoiv-Chicago Rebbe, whose daughter is married to the Boyaner Rebbe’s grandson.

Just one year ago, in the month of Av, the Rebbe’s grandson married the daughter of Rav Yaakov Shimshon Ernster, son of Rav Menachem Ernster, rosh yeshiva of Vizhnitz and son-in-law of Rav Meir Katz, rosh kollel of the Vizhnitz Haifa Seforim Kollel.

Now, with the birth of their daughter, the Boyaner Rebbe marks a new generational milestone.

On Monday morning, the krias sheim took place at the Boyaner kloiz on Bar Giora Street in Yerushalayim.

Reb Avrohom Dovid Eichenstein, the father of the newborn, arrived with a group of chassidim who had traveled from the Boyaner kloiz on Zecharia Street in Bnei Brak. Many other guests joined as well.

During chazaras haShatz, the Ziditchoiver Rebbe of Baltimore arrived accompanied by two of his meshamshim to participate in the naming.

The baby was named Sheva Bracha in memory of the late Rebbetzin Ernster.

The Boyaner Rebbe was called up for the third aliyah. Following his aliyah, the gabbai, Reb Yehoshua Friedman, recited a mi shebeirach for the Rebbe, the mother, and the baby girl, Sheva Bracha.

{Matzav.com Israel}

MK Dan Illouz of the Likud party spoke with Arutz Sheva, emphasizing the urgent need to overhaul the military draft system to include the chareidi sector. He argued that integrating chareidi youth into the IDF is vital not only for national defense but also for maintaining unity within Israeli society.

Discussing the need to expand IDF ranks, Illouz said the army cannot rely endlessly on a limited group of reservists. “If we want total victory, then we need soldiers who know how to bring this total victory,” he said. He acknowledged the political challenges but pointed out that the Knesset’s current break offers an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between Likud, the chareidi factions, and the Religious Zionist Party to find common ground.

“Even if it means going head-to-head politically with the haredi parties, we must do what’s necessary,” Illouz stated. “The greatest risk to the right-wing coalition is ignoring the soldiers who serve. If we turn our backs on them, we lose the next election.”

Addressing claims that only serious yeshiva students should be exempt, Illouz rejected the notion that only select individuals deserve exemption. “When you learn Torah, you understand more why you should serve,” he said. Nonetheless, he expressed willingness to reach a political compromise that would allow full-time yeshiva students to be exempt, stressing that the ultimate goal remains to strengthen the IDF with more personnel.

On the war with Hamas, Illouz voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s approach, advocating for a forceful response. “If any president had faced what we faced on October 7, the area from which the attackers came would now look like a parking lot,” he declared. While acknowledging Israeli accomplishments in Gaza, Illouz said the time had come for a final and decisive offensive.

“Now is the time for Israel to say, ‘We tried everything for a deal. It didn’t work. We need to go full force to victory.’ That’s the only way to release our hostages,” he said.

Illouz urged a complete military sweep of Gaza, pointing out that a quarter of the territory remains untouched. He noted that these sections, designated as “humanitarian zones,” may be concealing hostages. He warned that continuing to hold back could endanger the lives of those still in captivity.

Looking ahead, Illouz suggested implementing President Trump’s plan encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza. He argued that many residents would choose to leave. “The people left behind will largely be Hamas combatants, who must be either exiled, jailed, or eliminated. The remaining civilians can pursue a better future elsewhere.”

In response to calls from global leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize a Palestinian state, Illouz issued a stark warning. “Macron is giving a prize to Hamas for October 7. It’s not only dangerous for Israel, it’s dangerous for the free world.”

He urged the Israeli government to take decisive action by officially applying Israeli law to Judea and Samaria. “In 1967, we liberated these territories, but we never applied Israeli law. That needs to change.”

Illouz argued that Israel’s indecision over the legal status of these areas invites mounting international pressure. He compared the situation to Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, noting that even without widespread global recognition, international efforts to reverse it eventually faded.

“By allowing doubt to linger, we are inviting more pressure to establish a Palestinian state,” Illouz warned. “Judea and Samaria is not only a part of Israel, it’s the heart of Israel—Shilo, Bet El, Chevron, Yerushalayim. This is our biblical heartland.”

He concluded with optimism that President Trump would support such a move, provided Israel takes the lead. “I’m convinced that Trump, who has shown fairness and understanding, will be on our side. But it’s our job to put it on the table.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A widely circulated image of five-year-old Osama al-Rakab has sparked false accusations online, with claims that Israel is intentionally starving children like him. The photo has been used as part of an anti-Israel narrative, suggesting that Osama’s condition is a direct result of Israeli actions.

But according to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), those claims are completely unfounded. Osama’s illness is genetic and bears no connection to the war. He was not a victim of starvation, nor was his health impacted by any Israeli-imposed conditions. In fact, Israeli authorities helped facilitate his travel out of Gaza so he could receive medical care abroad.

“The Facts: Osama suffers from a serious genetic illness unrelated to the war,” COGAT tweeted. “On June 12, we actively coordinated Osama’s exit from Gaza with his mother and brother through the Ramon airport.”

“He is now receiving treatment in Italy.”

COGAT emphasized the damage that misinformation can cause, particularly when it manipulates sensitive content to inflame public opinion. “Tragic images rightfully stir strong emotions, but when they’re misused to fuel hatred and lies, they do more harm than good. Don’t let compassion be exploited for propaganda. Check the facts before parroting blame.”

{Matzav.com}