Matzav

The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Department of Families, Commemoration and Heritage released new figures Monday morning detailing the number of Israeli security personnel who have fallen since the Swords of Iron War began.

According to the data, 1,152 members of Israel’s security establishment have been killed since October 7, 2023, Simchas Torah.

Of those who lost their lives, 487 were under the age of 21—making up over 40 percent of the total—and 141 were over 40.

The tally encompasses personnel from the IDF, Israel Police, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), local community security officers, and rapid response teams who operated across multiple fronts, including Gaza, southern and northern Israel, Lebanon, and throughout Judea and Samaria.

Since the outbreak of the war, the Ministry of Defense has formally recognized over 6,500 new individuals as part of Israel’s bereaved families: 1,973 parents, 351 widows, 885 orphans, and 3,481 siblings.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump renewed his demand for the Federal Communications Commission to investigate a television network — this time targeting MSNBC for continuing to employ Al Sharpton.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major ‘TRUMP’ fan. He’d ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldn’t get anybody to come without me. Then he did the Tawana Brawley Hoax, one of the worst Low Level Scams in History, and that set him back, BIG TIME! Then he got to know Brian Roberts, Chairman of Fake News NBC, who gave him what would become one of the Lowest Rated Shows in Television History. Roberts is afraid to take him off because it wouldn’t be ‘Politically Correct.’ This is just one of the many reasons that the Federal Communications Commission should look into the license of NBC, which shows almost exclusively positive Democrat content. Likewise, ABC Fake News — About the same thing, 97% negative to Republicans!”

The FCC, however, does not license or regulate cable networks like MSNBC. Its authority covers broadcast television stations, meaning the commission has little direct influence over how cable outlets such as MSNBC operate or what programming they air.

Despite that, Trump has long criticized national news outlets for bias and has repeatedly called for investigations into their practices, even though news content is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment.

His renewed push comes weeks after Trump’s FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, made headlines when he publicly warned ABC affiliates about a controversial remark made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Within hours, Nexstar Media Group announced that it would pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its stations, and ABC suspended the show. Following public backlash, the program returned to the air, with both Nexstar and Sinclair resuming broadcasts later that week.

Sharpton’s program, PoliticsNation, first aired on MSNBC in 2011 as a weekday show before eventually being moved to a weekend schedule, where it continues to run.

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman and MK Yitzchok Goldknopf sent a pointed letter to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ahead of Sukkos, praising him for advancing the deal to secure the release of the hostages while also criticizing aspects of the agreement and drawing a sharp comparison to the imprisonment of avreichim and bochurim jailed for avoiding army service.

“You are privileged to fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim, bringing the hostages home to their families and to the entire nation,” Goldknopf wrote. “With Hashem’s help, this will take place soon—perhaps even during the festival of Sukkos, the holiday of joy and unity.”

However, Goldknopf did not refrain from expressing concern over the high price Israel is paying to finalize the deal. “The unbearable cost of this agreement includes the release of some 250 terrorists with blood on their hands—despicable murderers who left behind hundreds of bereaved families and thousands of wounded. You bear the responsibility to ensure that their release poses no threat to the safety of Israel’s citizens at any stage or in any way,” he cautioned.

In the closing section of the letter, Goldknopf shifted to a more critical and ironic tone, drawing a comparison between the freeing of convicted terrorists and the detention of Torah scholars. “I ask you to act for the release of those avreichim, men of Torah, who have been hunted down for the ‘crime’ of learning Torah and are now—lehavdil—sitting in Israeli prisons. They, too, deserve to celebrate Sukkos with their families,” he wrote.

Goldknopf concluded his message with a direct appeal to Netanyahu: “Mr. Prime Minister, be strong and courageous in standing up to the wicked forces that compel the Jewish state to imprison citizens whose only ‘offense’ is their devotion to Torah study. V’heishiv lev avos al banim—restore the hearts of the fathers to their sons.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Soldiers stationed in Gaza discovered that the esrogim included in their Sukkos kits from the IDF were invalid, according to a report broadcast by Doron Kadosh on Galei Tzahal radio.

The IDF confirmed Sunday evening that some esrogim distributed to troops were indeed found to be defective, attributing the issue to a “technical malfunction” during storage by an external supplier.

In response, the IDF Rabbinate quickly launched an operation to replace all of the invalid esrogim with kosher ones across every affected unit, ensuring that soldiers would be able to properly fulfill the mitzvah of daled minim.

An IDF spokesperson said in a statement: “All the esrogim supplied to IDF units were carefully inspected by members of the Military Rabbinate and found to be kosher. After inspection, the esrogim were stored with an external supplier until distribution to the various units. It appears that a technical issue during storage caused damage to some of the esrogim supplied to the IDF.”

“The Military Rabbinate acted swiftly throughout the day to replace the damaged esrogim with kosher ones, in order to ensure that every IDF soldier can perform the mitzvah of the arba minim properly,” the statement concluded.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Beis Meir, Rav Tzvi Rotberg, was released from Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer following an emergency cardiac procedure he underwent on Erev Yom Kippur.

According to sources, Rav Rotberg began experiencing heart discomfort shortly before the onset of Yom Kippur. Though he initially planned to remain in the yeshiva for Yom Kippur, he ultimately decided to travel to the hospital for evaluation. That decision, say those close to him, turned out to be life-saving.

Sources remarked that it was a “great miracle” that the rosh yeshiva chose to go to the hospital instead of staying in the yeshiva. Once examined, doctors determined that Rav Rotberg urgently required a cardiac catheterization.

The Yom Kippur tefillos at Yeshivas Beis Meir in Bnei Brak proceeded without the presence of their rosh yeshiva. The bochurim and rabbeim fervently davened for the recovery of Rav Tzvi ben Sarah Yuspa.

In the rosh yeshiva’s absence, his role as chazzan was filled by members of his family. His son, Rav Simcha Bunim Rotberg, a r”m in the yeshiva, led Kol Nidrei; his nephew, Rav Yaakov Yisraeli, served as chazzan for Mussaf; and Rav Simcha Bunim returned to lead Ne’ilah after managing to visit his father in the hospital and then return to the yeshiva that night. Rav Tuvia Rotberg, another son, remained at his father’s side in the hospital.

Baruch Hashem, the rosh yeshiva has since been discharged and is now resting at home.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Sunday, cautioning the regime against restarting its nuclear weapons program.

“Iran might renew its nuclear weapons, but I hope it won’t. If that decision is made, we will address it promptly,” Trump told reporters.

In June, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out coordinated airstrikes against several Iranian nuclear sites, including those located in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Following the operation, Trump declared that Iran’s major nuclear installations had been “obliterated” by the joint attacks.

The president later emphasized that he would “absolutely” authorize additional strikes on Iranian nuclear targets if intelligence assessments indicated renewed activity.

“Sure, without question, absolutely – it has to be unbelievable,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he would consider bombing Iran again if future reports raised alarms about uranium enrichment.

Trump added that he does not believe Iran will “go back into nuclear anytime soon” after the recent destruction of its nuclear infrastructure.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Sunday addressed the upcoming negotiations with Hamas set to begin Monday in Egypt, part of his plan aimed at freeing hostages and bringing the Gaza war to an end.

In a message posted to Truth Social, Trump cautioned the terror group that “time is of the essence or massive bloodshed will follow.”

“There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly,” Trump wrote.

“The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old ‘conflict.’ TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!” he added.

His remarks came as delegations from both Israel and Hamas arrived in Egypt to participate in the high-stakes discussions.

The president’s comments followed his warning yesterday that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if it refuses to surrender power in Gaza, as international diplomatic efforts build around his proposed ceasefire initiative.

On Friday, Trump said that Hamas had given a positive response to his plan, describing it as “a big day” and calling the progress “unprecedented” in a video posted on Truth Social.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces have released new footage revealing that Hamas operatives had abandoned weapons inside both a kindergarten and a school in Gaza City.

“Last week, IDF troops identified Hamas terrorists fleeing a kindergarten in al-Shati, Gaza City. The troops later found an explosive device and an AK-47 rifle inside the kindergarten,” the army reported on its English-language X account.

In a separate update, IDF international media spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani shared a photo showing Hamas gear inside a classroom. “These weapons were discovered in a school in Gaza a few days ago, a place meant for learning, not terror,” he wrote.

According to the military, both the kindergarten and school have likely been closed since the outbreak of the war.

The IDF has long accused Hamas of exploiting civilian structures such as schools, mosques, and hospitals for terror activities. Over the months of fighting, the army has released extensive evidence documenting tunnels, weapons caches, and command centers hidden within such sites.

At the same time, the IDF has acknowledged using certain Gaza schools as temporary bases for soldiers during military operations.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rabbi Avraham Wein, assistant rabbi at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, New Jersey, was assaulted outside his home, according to local authorities.

Despite reports that he was attacked while building his sukkah, the attack did not take place while he was constructing his sukkah.

Nor was he hospitalized, as many reports claim.

Police said the attacker emerged from a vehicle and struck Rabbi Wein before two nearby witnesses stepped in and restrained the assailant until officers arrived.

The rabbi is reported to be in good condition.

The suspect is in custody, and officials emphasized that the incident appears to have been an isolated one.

Rabbi Wein previously worked as a rabbinic assistant at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, New York, and currently teaches Judaic Studies at Torah Academy of Bergen County. Originally from Queens, New York, he studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and later served as a madrich for Har Etzion alumni at Yeshiva University.

Authorities said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump on Sunday dispatched 300 members of the California National Guard to Portland, Oregon, ignoring a federal injunction that sought to block such a move. The action immediately drew the ire of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who vowed to challenge the decision in court.

“After a federal court blocked his attempt to federalize the Oregon National Guard, Donald Trump is deploying 300 California National Guard personnel into Oregon,” Newsom posted on X, condemning the order as “un-American.”

“They are on their way there now. We are taking this fight back to court. The public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States.”

Newsom’s statement came just hours after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the administration’s earlier plan to send 200 Oregon National Guard troops into Portland — a city that has seen more than three months of nightly unrest targeting immigration enforcement facilities.

Last week, Trump had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy “all necessary troops” to the area and to use “full force” to protect immigration authorities from what he called “domestic terrorists.” Oregon’s state government quickly filed suit to prevent the deployment.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump, ruled yesterday that sending active-duty troops into Portland would run afoul of both the Constitution and federal laws prohibiting the military from engaging in domestic policing.

She added that Trump’s justification did not match the reality on the ground.
“Overall, the protests were small and uneventful,” Immergut wrote in her decision.
“The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts.”

The restraining order halting the president’s deployment is set to expire on October 18.

Newsom, who has frequently clashed with Trump online, accused the president of abusing power for personal gain.

“His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn’t about crime,” Newsom said in another statement Sunday.

“It’s about power. He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego. It’s appalling. It’s un-American. And it must stop.”

Since June, Portland has been plagued by ongoing chaos as Antifa-linked demonstrators repeatedly attacked a federal immigration detention center, setting off fireworks and throwing projectiles while federal officers tried to restore order. Officials say the violence has continued almost nightly, with little assistance from local law enforcement.

Cammila Wamsley, director of the Portland ICE office, told Fox News that agitators have even targeted employees at home and published their private information online.

Before the federal judge issued her ruling Saturday, hundreds of protesters had again gathered outside the South Macadam Avenue detention center, where clashes erupted between demonstrators and federal officers who deployed tear gas, pepper spray, and other crowd-control measures.

In light of the ongoing turmoil, Trump instructed his administration on Friday to identify federal funds that could be withheld from Portland. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has opened an investigation into the Portland Police Bureau’s handling of the unrest.

{Matzav.com}

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As part of the emerging arrangement for the hostages, Israel is set to release 250 inmates serving life terms for deadly terror attacks, along with more than 1,700 Palestinians from Gaza who were detained following the October 7th massacre.

One of the most prominent prisoners slated for release is 60-year-old Ibrahim Hamad, who masterminded and coordinated numerous attacks against Israelis, including a string of suicide bombings.

Hamad is linked to several major atrocities, among them the bombing of Café Moment in Jerusalem, which killed 11 and injured 65; the 2002 Sheffield Club attack in Rishon Letzion that left 15 dead and 57 wounded; and the bombing at Hebrew University later that year that killed nine and injured close to 100. He had previously been excluded from the Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange.

Journalist Sapir Lipkin revealed that Hamas is also seeking the release of Abdullah Barghouti, a senior bomb maker and commander within the group’s military wing in Judea and Samaria. Barghouti is tied to dozens of assaults in which 66 Israelis were murdered and roughly 500 wounded, including the 2001 bombing of the Sbarro pizzeria in Yerushalayim and the Café Moment attack in 2002.

Another figure on the list is Ahmed Saadat, 72, who was sentenced to 30 years for orchestrating the 2001 assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi at a Yerushalayim hotel. Also included is Abbas al-Sayed, notorious for planning the 2002 Park Hotel massacre in Netanya that killed dozens.

Hamas is additionally demanding freedom for Hassan Salama, a senior operative in its military branch. Salama played a key role in planning two bus bombings along Yerushalayim’s Route 18 that killed 45 Israelis, as well as the 1996 Ashkelon junction attack that left IDF soldier Hofit Aish dead and another 36 injured. He is serving 46 life sentences.

{Matzav.com Israel}

With talks for a potential agreement with Hamas gaining momentum, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar voiced optimism in an interview with the German newspaper BILD that progress could soon be achieved. “I hope that we are close,” Sa’ar remarked, referring to a possible arrangement that would secure the release of 48 Israeli hostages, both alive and deceased, in return for Israel pulling back several kilometers and freeing hundreds of jailed terrorists.

Sa’ar stressed Israel’s commitment to reaching a resolution quickly, telling the paper’s deputy editor Paul Ronzheimer: “We are determined to reach an agreement as soon as possible to bring our hostages home again. That would, of course, also mean a ceasefire.”

The foreign minister cautioned against placing faith in Hamas, making clear where his trust lies. “No, I don’t trust Hamas. I trust President Trump. I trust the United States of America. I trust the international actors involved in efforts to bring an end to the war,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that Hamas could attempt to drag out the process in order to avoid facing pressure from the American president, Sa’ar dismissed the idea. “I don’t believe President Trump will have much patience for that. He has spoken very clearly, and I have nothing to add.”

Sa’ar further revealed that top Trump advisors, Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner, were slated to arrive in Cairo to help seal the deal. “Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner are not traveling to Cairo to stay there for weeks or months,” he noted.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has received approval from most senior members of his governing coalition to move ahead with the first phase of the proposed hostage deal.

Kan News reported that although Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party and several others plan to oppose the agreement “on principle,” they will not withdraw from the coalition or trigger its collapse during this initial stage.

The report noted that Smotrich and other ministers have set a clear condition — that Gaza must be fully demilitarized. Any deviation from that demand, they said, would cross their red line.

Yesterday, Finance Minister Smotrich sharply criticized Netanyahu’s choice to pause military action in Gaza in order to engage in talks with Hamas. “The Prime Minister’s decision to stop the offensive in Gaza and, for the first time, to conduct negotiations not under fire is a severe mistake,” Smotrich declared.

He further described the move as “a certain recipe for Hamas to waste time and for Israel’s position to be worn down, both regarding the release of hostages in one wave within 72 hours and concerning the main goal of the war of eliminating Hamas and the full demobilization of Gaza.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit also issued a warning, saying his party would leave the coalition if Hamas remains intact after the hostages are freed. “If, after the release of all the hostages, the Hamas terror organization continues to exist, Otzma Yehudit will no longer be part of the government. We will not be part of the national defeat, which would be an eternal disgrace, or become a ticking time bomb until the next massacre. There is no doubt that we will rejoice like everyone else to see all the hostages return. With this, we can’t at all agree to a scenario where a terror organization that brought the worst disaster is reborn. We will in no way be part of this,” he stated.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli delegation, led by Minister Ron Dermer, to set out for renewed negotiations in Egypt. The team is expected to leave as soon as tomorrow, with the talks scheduled to take place in the resort city of Sharm El Sheikh.

According to reports from Al-Arabiya, Hamas operatives have started the process of locating and gathering the remains of deceased Israeli hostages throughout Gaza, even as discussions toward a potential deal continue to move forward.

A Hamas representative told the network that an end to Israeli airstrikes is necessary to allow the recovery efforts to continue. “We started to collect the Israeli deceased hostages and asked for the strikes to stop in order to do so. The release of living hostages will be carried out in one stage, but handing over the remains will take some time,” the official stated.

The same official also noted that there is “American flexibility” on the issue of returning the bodies and that Hamas has received assurances through Qatar, including commitments related to a full Israeli withdrawal.

He further claimed that Hamas has conveyed to the United States its readiness to surrender its weapons to a joint Palestinian-Egyptian authority operating under international oversight, adding that the future of the group’s leaders “depends on their decision.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A devastating fire in Tel Zion just hours before Shabbos left a young child in serious condition and several families without homes as Yom Tov approaches.

The blaze erupted on Friday afternoon when a young boy was playing with an electric battery near his family’s sukkah. The battery exploded, triggering a fast-spreading fire that engulfed the home within moments, as seen in the photo above. The flames consumed the apartment entirely, leaving nothing behind but ash and debris. Neighboring homes were also affected, with four additional families suffering varying degrees of damage.

The main home destroyed in the fire belonged to a family of ten, headed by a talmid chacham known for his diligence and devotion to Torah learning. In an instant, the family lost everything: their clothing, furniture, food, and personal belongings. One of the children was critically burned in the fire and remains hospitalized, facing a long and painful recovery process.

Residents of the neighborhood stood in shock as they surveyed the devastation: blackened apartments, families without even the most basic necessities, and small children who watched helplessly as their home disappeared in flames.

“This is a tragedy,” said one local volunteer involved in relief efforts. “It’s a large-scale disaster caused by the innocent but dangerous play of one small child. We’re doing everything we can to help the families and would be grateful for any additional assistance from the broader public. They need clothing, furniture, and supplies—but first and foremost, urgent financial aid so the five affected families can celebrate the Yom Tov in a dignified way.”

He added that rebuilding the main home will require extensive and costly work. “The damage is severe. The walls need to be stripped to the foundation, the floors and tiles are unusable, and the plumbing and electrical systems must be completely replaced. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of shekels in expenses to restore the home. And beyond that, the family has to start from scratch—beds, closets, a refrigerator, a washing machine—they have nothing left.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump declared that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if it refuses to relinquish control of Gaza, as he continues to push forward his ceasefire and peace proposal.

“Complete Obliteration!” Trump told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a text message yesterday when asked what would happen if Hamas insists on maintaining power in Gaza.

Tapper questioned Trump about the group’s reaction to his 20-point ceasefire framework, referencing Sen. Lindsey Graham’s assessment that Hamas had effectively turned down the plan by demanding “no disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control and tying hostage release to negotiations.”

“Is he wrong?” Tapper asked.

“We will find out. Only time will tell!!!” Trump replied.

The president said he expects to know “soon” whether Hamas is serious about pursuing peace.

“Yes on Bibi,” Trump answered when asked if Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu supports ending the air campaign in Gaza and is aligned with the broader peace initiative.

Trump expressed optimism that his proposal will take hold and emphasized that he remains actively engaged in seeing it through.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump said that Israel had agreed to the initial withdrawal line described in his ceasefire blueprint.

In a social media post, he wrote that the administration is now waiting for Hamas to confirm its acceptance.

If Hamas consents, Trump said, the truce would take effect immediately and an exchange of hostages and prisoners would begin.

“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president also announced that Israel had paused its airstrikes on Gaza, describing the move as a crucial step toward implementing the ceasefire, securing the release of captives, and signaling to Hamas that it must act quickly.

Despite that pause, CNN reported earlier the same day that at least 67 people in Gaza had been killed in Israeli strikes, citing local hospital sources.

Trump said Friday that Hamas had provided a favorable response to his 20-point peace proposal aimed at concluding the war. In a video shared on Truth Social, he called it “a big day,” describing the developments as “unprecedented.”

{Matzav.com}

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed Sunday that violent cartels have placed cash rewards on the heads of multiple federal immigration agents — offering $10,000 for their deaths and $2,000 for their capture.

Noem said the threats, along with doxing efforts targeting officers, have shaken federal law enforcement. She did not clarify whether the danger was directed specifically at agencies such as U.S. Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We have specific agents who have had bounties put out on their heads,” Noem said during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend Sunday.

“It’s been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They’ve released their pictures; they’ve sent them between their networks. It’s an extremely dangerous and unprecedented situation.”

Because of ongoing investigations, Noem declined to name the groups responsible for the threats.

“It is gangs, it is cartel members and known terrorist organizations,” she said, describing the situation in general terms.

“They are making sure that they know which officers are out there and being extremely effective, and they want to take them down, because they want to try to stop the operations that are going that are that are keeping them from making money off their criminal networks.”

{Matzav.com}

With negotiations in Cairo set to begin on Monday between Israel and Hamas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that Hamas’ release of hostages is the “most emergent and immediate phase” of the proposed peace plan. “That has to happen very quickly — that cannot drag on,” he added.

WATCH:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that while negotiations between Israel and Hamas are progressing, the discussions do not yet signal the official conclusion of the war. He added that creating a new governing structure for Gaza will require patience, though he stressed that a framework for doing so already exists.

His comments came as both sides move closer to adopting President Donald Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace initiative aimed at ending the conflict and establishing long-term stability in Gaza.

When asked by moderator Kristen Welker whether the talks mean the war is effectively over, Rubio replied, “not yet.”

“There’s some work that remains to be done,” he said, referring to the detailed meetings now underway to finalize the logistics of the peace arrangement.

“Everyone has agreed, including Israel, that eventually, at some point here as this process plays out, Gaza will be governed by a Palestinian technocratic group that’s not Hamas, that are not terrorists, with the help and the assistance and the guidance of an international consortium like the board of peace,” Rubio explained, reiterating one of the core elements of Trump’s plan.

At the same time, he cautioned against unrealistic expectations. “You can’t set up a governance structure in Gaza that’s not Hamas in three days,” Rubio said.

“I mean, it takes some time,” he added.

According to the peace plan, Gaza would “be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.” It further specifies that Hamas, which currently holds control over the territory, would have no governing role moving forward.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed Trump’s proposal, which also calls for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages, a point he reiterated during his meeting at the White House last week.

Hamas has indicated its readiness to release all hostages, both living and deceased, and plans to dispatch a delegation to Cairo on Sunday for additional talks scheduled to begin Monday. Representing the United States at those discussions will be Trump administration special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The next phase of negotiations will focus on two main issues — the mechanics of freeing the hostages and the establishment of a new Palestinian governing body.

“How do you create this Palestinian technocratic leadership that’s not Hamas, that’s not terrorists, and with the help of the international community?” Rubio asked. “How do you disarm any sort of terrorist groups that are going to be building tunnels and conducting attacks against Israel?”

He noted that significant logistical challenges still remain in coordinating the release of captives.

“You have to make sure the Red Cross can get there, what time they’re going to be there, where they’re going to be,” Rubio said. “All that has to be worked through.”

{Matzav.com}