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A Palestinian student enrolled at Columbia University who was taken into custody by ICE in Vermont had previously taken a lead role in aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations and allegedly used inflammatory language to threaten Jewish students, according to officials at the State Department who spoke with The New York Post.

Mohsen Mahdawi, originally from the West Bank, was reportedly detained by immigration enforcement agents during a citizenship application appointment earlier this week, his lawyer confirmed.

“Mahdawi, through his leadership and involvement in disruptive protests at Columbia University, has engaged in antisemitic conduct through leading pro-Palestinian protests and calling for Israel’s destruction,” a high-ranking State Department official stated.

According to that official, Mahdawi’s social media posts denouncing Israel provide only a partial picture of his actions and ideology.

“Mahdawi played an active role in fall 2024 student protests at Columbia University, instructing protesters to physically push a small group of pro-Israel students, events that university officials later acknowledged as threatening rhetoric and intimidation,” the source added.

The official further claimed that Mahdawi’s conduct included harsh anti-Jewish speech, such as labeling IDF soldiers as terrorists and using a megaphone to shout at Jewish individuals and Israel supporters.

Footage of Mahdawi captured during a campus demonstration showed him addressing a crowd in front of a banner reading “By any means necessary,” as aired in a December 2023 segment of CBS’ “60 Minutes.”

In that same interview, Mahdawi expressed sympathy for Hamas’ deadly October 7 assault on Israel, in which over 1,200 civilians were killed, and characterized Israel’s retaliatory actions as “a genocide.”

“I did not say that I justify what Hamas has done, I said I can empathize. To empathize is to understand the root cause and not look at any event or situation in a vacuum.”

Mahdawi served as co-president of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), an organization that publicly praised the October 7 attacks, referring to them as “an unprecedented historic moment for the Palestinians in Gaza.”

Columbia University ultimately suspended the SJP chapter in November 2023, citing repeated violations of school protest regulations.

A recent lawsuit filed by families of individuals still held hostage by Hamas alleged that SJP was aware in advance of the terrorist group’s attack, accusing it of acting as “Hamas’ American propaganda arm.” The suit highlighted an Instagram post reading “we are back!!” that the group allegedly published moments before the massacre began.

On Monday, video shared online appeared to show Mahdawi being led away in handcuffs by federal agents and placed into a plain vehicle.

In comments to the Intercept, Mahdawi described his arrest as “kind of a death sentence.”

According to the outlet, Mahdawi, who had ties to Mahmoud Khalil—another Columbia student detained over anti-Israel activity—had been in hiding and had even requested assistance from the university in finding a safe place to stay amid fears he would be targeted by President Trump’s sweeping deportation efforts.

His attorney, Luna Droubi, condemned the arrest, telling the Intercept, “Mahdawi was unlawfully detained today for no reason other than his Palestinian identity.”

“He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Newly released images show the dramatic arrest of a man accused of firebombing both a Tesla dealership and a Republican Party office in New Mexico, as FBI agents raided his home early Shabbos morning.

Jamison Wagner, age 40, was apprehended by members of an FBI counterterrorism unit, emerging from his residence wearing only shorts and no shirt.

Wagner, who was seen with lipstick during the arrest, is facing two federal charges of malicious damage or destruction of property. Each charge carries a potential 20-year prison sentence.

The charges stem from a February 9 attack on a Tesla showroom in Albuquerque, where Wagner allegedly set two cars on fire and defaced both vehicles and the building with swastikas and other graffiti.

Less than two months later, on March 30, he is said to have struck again, this time vandalizing the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters by damaging the front doors and spray-painting the phrase “ICE = KKK” on the structure.

Authorities say Wagner was tracked down through surveillance video, which helped them connect the attacks to a white 2015 Hyundai Accent that was captured on camera.

Inside Wagner’s home, agents reportedly uncovered a stencil with the same “ICE = KKK” phrase and found eight objects believed to be homemade incendiary devices.

“Following Attorney General [Pam] Bondi’s leadership, Director [Kash] Patel immediately took steps to have the FBI quickly locate and arrest domestic terrorists attacking Tesla facilities — and we’re glad to see the latest operation succeed not just in this effort, but also bring to justice the same alleged attacker of the New Mexico Republican Party from February,” FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told The Post.

“Our FBI teams and law enforcement partners continue to do a tremendous job.”

The arrest is part of a broader effort by the FBI to confront a series of attacks on Tesla-related properties nationwide. These incidents have escalated in the wake of Democratic criticism of Elon Musk, a close ally of President Trump and the current head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

According to the Department of Justice, Wagner’s graffiti at the Tesla site included messages such as “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and “Die Tesla Nazi,” all of which appeared to directly target Musk.

Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel had previously declared their commitment to pursue Tesla-related attacks aggressively, branding the perpetrators as domestic terrorists. Patel recently launched a new FBI task force focused specifically on finding those responsible.

This specialized unit brings together FBI counterterrorism agents, analysts, and personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under the Treasury Department.

Speaking on Fox News with Jesse Watters, Bondi said Wagner would not be given a plea bargain. “These people thought they could get away with it. They can’t.”

“Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,” Bondi said in a DOJ statement. “We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences.”

{Matzav.com}

A striking new painting of President Donald Trump has taken the place of Barack Obama’s portrait in the Grand Foyer of the White House, depicting the president bloodied but unbroken, fist raised high following the attempted assassination during a campaign rally last year in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, shared a post on X Friday showing side-by-side images of the previous Obama portrait and the new painting of Trump in the same location beneath the Grand Staircase. That same day, the White House posted a video to its X account capturing visitors passing by the Trump painting where the Obama portrait had previously been displayed.

Obama’s portrait, painted by Robert McCurdy, features him in a black suit and gray tie against a stark white backdrop. Though no longer in its original spot, it remains prominently displayed just opposite the Grand Foyer, according to Harrison Fields, the White House’s principal deputy press secretary, who shared the update in a post on X.

According to a White House official speaking to Newsmax on Friday evening, the painting of Trump was created by Marc Lipp and was presented to the White House by Andrew Pollack, through the Blue Gallery in Delray Beach, Florida, which represents the artist.

Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was one of the 17 students killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is known for his advocacy work in school safety and is also an author, as noted by the New York Post.

Lipp’s dramatic painting draws inspiration from powerful photographs captured by Evan Vucci of the Associated Press and Doug Mills of the New York Times. These images show Trump with a bloodied ear, his fist clenched and raised in defiance, surrounded by Secret Service personnel and with the American flag visible behind him.

The painting was officially installed on Friday, the White House confirmed. Obama’s portrait has now been relocated to the spot where George W. Bush’s once hung. Bush’s portrait will be repositioned near that of his father, George H.W. Bush, and will still be visible on the State Floor.

CNN has reported that official portraits of Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are currently being prepared for inclusion in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. The costs for the portraits are being covered by private contributions, including a $650,000 donation from the Save America PAC and an additional private gift that covers expenses like artist fees, transportation, framing, hanging, and any related events, according to spokesperson Concetta Duncan.

Additionally, the National Portrait Gallery already holds a 1989 photograph by Michael O’Brien of a smiling Trump dressed in a suit and playfully tossing a red apple.

{Matzav.com}

During a discussion in the Oval Office on Monday with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, President Donald Trump accused CNN of intentionally ignoring positive developments at the southern border, claiming the network refuses to cover the progress because “they hate our country.”

While speaking with Bukele, Trump shifted the conversation to highlight recent gains in border enforcement and increased enlistment in law enforcement and military sectors. Bukele praised Trump’s administration, saying, “Actually, what you’re doing with the border is remarkable. It has dropped, what, 95%? It’s incredible.”

Trump quickly corrected the number, stating, “As of this morning, 99%, 99.1% to be exact.”

Bukele questioned the lack of media coverage, asking, “Why are those numbers not in the media?”

Trump responded by blaming media bias, particularly pointing to CNN. “Well, they get out, but the fake news, you know, like CNN — CNN over here doesn’t want to put them out because they don’t like putting out good numbers … because I think they hate our country, actually,” he said.

Turning to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump asked her to weigh in on the situation. She praised the administration’s efforts, stating, “It’s just been absolutely phenomenal what a great leader can do. Clear direction. Our laws matter. We should only have people in our country that love us. And our Border Patrol and our ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers and law officers have done fantastic work. So we’re proud of them.”

Noem added, “Now, we just need to get the criminals and murderers and rapists and dangerous gang members and terrorist organizations out of our country.”

After the exchange, CNN’s Dana Bash issued a rebuttal on-air, addressing Trump’s comment. “I just want to say, for the record, since we heard President Trump say in the Oval Office that CNN hates our country, CNN does not hate our country,” she said.

Bash continued, “I’ve been here for 32 years, and I see a rhetorical device in him trying to say such a thing. That said, I want to focus on the news that we heard.”

{Matzav.com}

China has reportedly instructed its airlines to suspend any purchases of jets from the American aerospace company Boeing. This move appears to be a direct response to President Trump’s implementation of steep tariffs—reaching up to 145%—on Chinese imports.

According to Bloomberg News, which cited individuals with knowledge of the matter, the Chinese government has also advised domestic airlines to refrain from acquiring any aviation components or services from U.S.-based suppliers.

This directive follows Beijing’s own decision over the weekend to slap a 125% tariff on American goods, a measure that would effectively double the price of aircraft and parts produced in the United States, Bloomberg reported.

The announcement led to a 3% drop in Boeing’s shares during early trading on Tuesday. The development is a significant setback for the company, which has long seen China as a critical market for future growth, even as European competitor Airbus holds the majority share there.

In light of the situation, Bloomberg reports that Chinese officials are now evaluating options to support local airlines that operate Boeing aircraft and are now facing increased costs for upkeep and servicing.

Tensions between the two economic powerhouses have also spilled into other sectors. Earlier this month, China halted exports of rare earth elements and magnets that are essential for manufacturing a broad range of high-tech American products, from smartphones to military aircraft.

As of April 3, China stopped outbound shipments of seven heavy rare earth elements and magnets that are almost exclusively processed within the country.

These materials are largely sourced and refined in China, which accounts for about 90% of the global supply. Their importance spans multiple critical industries, including electric vehicles, aviation, technology, and national defense.

“These materials are in everything,” explained Drew Horn, who served as the Trump administration’s lead official on strategic minerals and supply chains. Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Horn added, “China has essentially created an all-powerful monopoly with them.”

While the export restrictions are officially global, the United States is especially reliant on access to elements such as dysprosium and yttrium, which are integral to advanced industrial production.

Horn emphasized that China possesses the strategic power “to basically cut us off and cut the world off, which essentially cuts us off through all sorts of different means.”

He cautioned that protective measures are needed to shield U.S. businesses and consumers from the ripple effects of Chinese economic retaliation. Horn pointed to Boeing as a case in point, warning that any countermeasures from Beijing “would basically be to go through the entire Boeing supply chain, throughout their entire ecosystem, and basically cut them off.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet announce that an airstrike in Gaza killed the latest commander of Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion. Muhammad al-Ajlah is now the fifth commander of the Shejaiya Battalion to be killed by the IDF amid the war.

WATCH: More than 50,000 gathered at the Kosel on Monday, Chol Hamoed, for Birchas Kohanim.

White House physician Sean Barbabella cited President Trump’s consistent success on the golf course as a sign of his “excellent health” and “robust” neurological fitness, according to a memo summarizing the president’s latest physical exam.

The statement, issued by the White House on Sunday, described the 78-year-old president as being in top form, with only minimal health issues mentioned. Barbabella emphasized Trump’s strong medical condition.

“President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State,” the memo stated.

Barbabella also highlighted Trump’s daily routine, crediting his energetic schedule as a key contributor to his continued vitality. “His active lifestyle continues to contribute significantly to his well-being,” he wrote. “President Trump’s days include participation in multiple meetings, public appearances, press availability, and frequent victories in golf events.”

After undergoing his physical at Walter Reed last Friday, Trump told reporters that he had aced a cognitive exam and took the opportunity to mock Joe Biden. According to Barbabella, Trump received a perfect score of 30 out of 30.

“I felt I was in very good shape. Good heart,” Trump told reporters after the exam. “I took a cognitive test. I don’t know what to tell you other than I got every answer right.”

He continued to promote his mental sharpness, referencing the test he took. “I think it’s a pretty well-known test. I’ve taken the test four times. I’ve got nothing wrong,” Trump said. “That’s what the American people want. Biden refused to take it. Kamala refused to take it.”

The physician’s report listed Trump’s height at 75 inches and his weight at 224 pounds, indicating that he has shed pounds since his presidency began. For comparison, in 2019, he was listed as weighing 243 pounds.

Though the updated weight still places Trump in the overweight category by body mass index standards, it falls short of the obesity threshold.

Other health indicators appeared within reasonable ranges. His blood pressure was recorded at 128/74 — slightly above normal but not categorized as hypertension, according to guidelines from the American Heart Association.

His resting heart rate was 62 beats per minute, which falls within the AHA’s normal range.

The memo also disclosed that Trump is taking rosuvastatin and ezetimibe to manage cholesterol levels, with a total cholesterol reading of 140 mg/dL — a level Barbabella described as “optimal.”

Barbabella further listed several medical conditions Trump has, all of which are reportedly under control. “His medical history is notable for well-controlled hypercholesterolemia, seasonal allergies, a history of COVID-19 infection, well-managed rosacea, actinic keratosis, benign nevi, diverticulosis and a benign colon polyp,” he wrote.

Since launching his presidential bid in 2016, Trump has consistently released favorable health evaluations from his physicians.

Earlier this year, Trump appointed Barbabella as his official physician. Barbabella is a decorated veteran who served in Afghanistan and was awarded a Purple Heart after sustaining serious injuries from an improvised explosive device during his first deployment.

{Matzav.com}

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, reported on Tuesday that they can no longer reach the team responsible for holding American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, following an Israeli attack on their position, according to spokesman Abu Obeida. “We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct Israeli bombardment targeting their location. We are still trying to reach them,” Abu Obeida said. In a separate propaganda video released the same day, Hamas issued a menacing warning: “Be prepared, soon your children will return in black coffins.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump put to rest any speculation about possible exemptions from his latest round of tariffs on Chinese-made electronics, confirming that iPhones and similar devices will not be spared.

“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook,’” Trump declared on Truth Social Sunday. “There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’” He added, “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.”

On Friday, a rule was issued that seemed to exclude many consumer electronics from Trump’s aggressive “reciprocal” tariffs targeting Chinese imports, prompting confusion about whether Apple and other tech giants had been granted a reprieve.

The rule raised eyebrows because Apple and similar companies had been bracing for levies of up to 145% under Trump’s new trade framework. With more than 80% of Apple’s products assembled in China, according to Evercore ISI, the announcement seemed like a major break. Apple CEO Tim Cook has worked closely with Trump throughout the tariff standoff.

Some analysts had predicted even before the latest developments that iPhones could climb in price to $2,300 if tariffs were fully imposed.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attempted to clarify the administration’s position during an appearance on ABC’s This Week, stating that electronics from China will still be taxed under a different classification.

“So what he’s doing is he’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon,” Lutnick said.

He added, “All those products are going to come under semiconductors, and they’re going to have a special focus type of tariff to make sure that those products get restored.”

Last week, just before the reciprocal tariff structure was set to go into effect, Trump surprised markets by pausing the rollout for 90 days to give his administration more time to renegotiate trade deals. He admitted the decision was in part due to market volatility, saying that some people were “getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid.”

Despite the delay, the 10% baseline tariff remains intact across most imports, and China still faces a 125% penalty under the broader plan. Additionally, the 20% fentanyl-related tariff announced earlier this year remains in place, bringing the total effective rate on many Chinese goods to as high as 145%.

China is currently the United States’ third-largest trade partner. Trump emphasized the need for self-sufficiency in manufacturing, particularly in strategic industries.

“What has been exposed is that we need to make products in the United States, and that we will not be held hostage by other Countries, especially hostile trading Nations like China, which will do everything within its power to disrespect the American People,” he stated.

Trump’s earlier fentanyl-linked tariffs still apply to a wide range of electronics, including those coming from China. Lutnick stressed the importance of rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity. “We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to have flat panels — we need to have these things made in America. We can’t be reliant on Southeast Asia for all of the things that operate for us,” he said.

Lutnick also said the administration is considering tariff-based strategies to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States. “We can’t be beholden and rely upon foreign countries for fundamental things that we need,” he explained. “So this is not like a permanent sort of exemption. He’s just clarifying that these are not available to be negotiated away by countries. These are things that are national security that we need to be made in America.”

Before Trump issued the delay in customized tariffs last Wednesday, administration officials had made clear that the president had no intention of offering carve-outs and that the aggressive protectionist approach was not a bluff.

Peter Navarro, senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, reiterated on Sunday that Trump remains firm on this front. “The policy is no exemptions, no exclusions,” he said, despite the seeming relief for the electronics sector.

Navarro noted that the structure of the semiconductor market complicates enforcement. “The problem, interestingly for chips, because this is very complex stuff, is that we don’t buy a lot of chips, like in bags. We buy them in products. So what Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick is doing as we speak is an investigation of the chip supply chain,” Navarro said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press.

It is still unknown what rate Trump intends to set for the upcoming semiconductor-specific tariffs.

Former President Joe Biden attempted to boost domestic chip production with the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which provided financial incentives to semiconductor manufacturers. Trump, however, has repeatedly criticized the legislation, arguing that tariffs are a more effective method to bring manufacturing back to American soil.

{Matzav.com}

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a heartfelt invitation to former President Donald Trump, urging him to visit Ukraine and witness firsthand the toll of the ongoing war with Russia. During an appearance on CBS’ 60 Minutes Sunday, Zelensky appealed directly to Trump, asking him to come and see the suffering caused by the conflict.

“We want you to come,” Zelensky told Trump. “You think you understand what’s going on here. Okay, we respect your position. You understand. But, please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”

He went on to say that seeing the reality on the ground might help guide Trump toward a meaningful solution. “Come, look, and then let’s — let’s move with a plan how to finish the war,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized his desire for Trump to see the destruction for himself, without any staging or special arrangements. Zelensky said the goal is to expose the reality of what Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has done. “You will understand with whom you have a deal. You will understand what Putin did,” he said.

Zelensky stressed the authenticity of his offer, saying there would be no orchestrated displays or performances. “We will not prepare anything. It will not be theater, with preparing actors in the streets and the [city] center. We don’t do this. We don’t need it. You can go exactly where you want, in any city which been under attacks,” he stated. “Just to come and to understand.”

His remarks followed renewed criticism from Trump, who has repeatedly blamed various sides for allowing the war to erupt. “That’s a war that should have never been allowed to start and Biden could have stopped it and Zelensky could have stopped it and Putin should have never started it,” Trump said on Monday. “Everybody is to blame.”

Zelensky also addressed recent remarks made by Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly suggested Putin could be trusted and accused Zelensky of staging tours for foreign visitors. Zelensky rejected that notion, saying, “It’s a shift in tone, a shift in reality, really yes, a shift in reality, and I don’t want to engage in the altered reality that is being presented to me.”

He continued, “First and foremost, we did not launch an attack [to start the war]. It seems to me that the vice president is somehow justifying Putin’s actions. I tried to explain, ‘You can’t look for something in the middle. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim.’”

The interview aired shortly after Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia in an attempt to revive negotiations that have been stalled for weeks.

It also followed a deadly Russian missile attack over the weekend, in which at least 32 people were killed, including two children. The strike occurred during Palm Sunday services in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy and left at least 84 others injured. Authorities have called it the most lethal assault on civilians in 2025 so far.

Trump responded to the CBS segment with outrage, blasting the network on his Truth Social account. “Almost every week, 60 Minutes … mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend’s ‘BROADCAST’ tops them all,” he wrote, referring to both the Ukraine segment and another story focused on Greenland.

“CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump declared.

He called on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take disciplinary action against the network. “Maximum fines and punishment” should be imposed, Trump said, for what he described as “unlawful and illegal behavior.”

He also accused the program of losing its journalistic integrity. “A dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,” Trump added.

The former president is also currently pursuing a $20 billion lawsuit against 60 Minutes, alleging that the show unfairly edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s election campaign. Trump claims the edit painted Harris in a favorable light, a charge CBS has denied.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told the parents of hostage Eitan Mor that the Israeli government is advancing a deal that could lead to the release of ten hostages currently held by terror groups in Gaza, according to a statement from the Tikva Forum on Monday.

Eitan Mor, 23, was taken captive while working as a security guard at the Nova music festival on October 7. His father, Tzvika Mor, co-founded the Tikva Forum, a right-leaning advocacy group that offers an alternative to the mainstream Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Netanyahu phoned Eitan’s parents, Tzvika and Efrat Mor, on Sunday night to share an update on the negotiations. During the call, the Mors reiterated their group’s position: “Tzvika and Efrat Mor emphasized to the prime minister the position of the Tikva Forum that all the hostages need to be released in one phase on the same bus, without selektzia between them,” the Forum said, using the Holocaust-era term “selektzia” that refers to the Nazi practice of selecting Jews for forced labor or execution.

Negotiations have reportedly stalled over differences in the number of hostages to be released in exchange for a ceasefire. Israel has demanded the release of 11, while Hamas had previously offered five. The Tikva Forum indicated that Israel has now shifted its demand to 10 hostages.

A Hamas source, cited by Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen network, said the group is reviewing a new Israeli offer involving a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for 10 hostages. Over the weekend, reports emerged that Israel expressed a willingness to scale down its initial demand. According to Ynet, Israel is awaiting a response to a proposal involving the release of nine or ten hostages, possibly including US-Israeli dual citizen Edan Alexander, who appeared in a Hamas propaganda video on Saturday.

In response to the news, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement urging Netanyahu to secure a deal for the release of all captives. “While the families wait hopefully and would welcome the release of any hostage from Hamas captivity, we continue to call for a comprehensive deal that will return ALL hostages immediately,” they said.

The group warned that “every additional day in captivity endangers the lives of those still being held by Hamas terrorists, who are subjecting them to horrific conditions including starvation, physical abuse, and confinement in darkness.” The Forum demanded a swift and complete solution: “We urge the obvious, possible, and appropriate solution: End the war and return all the hostages, the living and the dead, immediately.”

An Egyptian official told Reuters that Hamas has requested additional time to respond to the current proposal. Sources said the delegation, led by Gaza-based Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya, rejected an initiative to revive the previous ceasefire, insisting that any agreement must include a full end to the war.

Though Hamas reportedly showed some openness regarding the number of hostages it could release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, it requested guarantees that talks on the ceasefire’s second phase — which would include halting the war — would proceed.

“Hamas has no problem, but it wants guarantees Israel agrees to begin the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement,” the Egyptian source explained.

Taher al-Nunu, a senior Hamas official, reiterated the group’s demands in an interview with AFP. “We are ready to release all Israeli captives in exchange for a serious prisoner swap deal, an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid,” he said.

Nunu further blamed Israel for delaying progress. “The issue is not the number of captives,” he said, “but rather that the occupation is reneging on its commitments, blocking the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and continuing the war.” He added, “Hamas has therefore stressed the need for guarantees to compel the occupation [Israel] to uphold the agreement.”

Netanyahu has maintained that he will not agree to a permanent ceasefire or a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’s military and governance structures are dismantled.

The current war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Of the remaining hostages, 59 are believed to still be in captivity, with only 24 confirmed to be alive.

Saudi network Al-Arabiya reported Sunday night that Hamas may now be willing to release a greater number of hostages under a new proposal. The report also stated that the U.S. has told Hamas it would pressure Israel into agreeing to broader talks aimed at ending the war.

Israeli media outlets, including Ynet and The Times of Israel, reported that the Israeli side has softened its demands since Netanyahu’s recent meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. According to two officials familiar with the negotiations, Israel is no longer insisting on the release of 11 living hostages.

Al-Arabiya further claimed the new proposal is nearing finalization, with Hamas giving initial approval to release more hostages. The proposed deal would include a two-stage release process, entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and medical documentation on the condition of the remaining captives. Talks about whether Hamas leaders can remain in Gaza have reportedly been postponed.

Amid these developments, families of the hostages remain deeply worried that continued military operations in Gaza could endanger their loved ones.

Ruhama Bohbot, mother of hostage Elkana Bohbot, said Monday that Netanyahu had assured her Israel knows the precise locations where hostages are being held. Speaking to Army Radio, she said the prime minister told her that Israeli forces are deliberately avoiding those areas to prevent harming the captives.

In a separate plea, Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, addressed Netanyahu directly in a video released Monday. “My son Matan has been held in a tunnel together with the soldier who holds American citizenship, Edan Alexander, who is expected to be released first in any deal,” she said.

“According to medical information in my possession, Matan was kidnapped while likely suffering from a form of muscular dystrophy that affects most of our family members. Due to the harsh conditions of captivity and the stress he is under, we know his condition has deteriorated,” she continued.

Zangauker described her son’s physical suffering in detail: “He is shackled in heavy chains, unable even to stand up in the tunnel that is lower than his height. He is going through a holocaust. There is serious concern for Matan’s well-being if he remains alone in the tunnel. The isolation will lead to further deterioration and will be a death sentence for Matan.”

She concluded with an emotional demand: “If there is a deal in which Edan is released, then Matan — who is held with him — must also be released. Matan will not survive alone, and he must be brought out. He is the most humanitarian case among the hostages. If Matan is abandoned to die alone in the tunnel, all of Israel will know that the prime minister deliberately chose to hand down a death sentence on a citizen who was kidnapped from his home in his pajamas — purely out of personal vengeance against his family.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Gershon Ingber zt”l, author of the sefer Kan Shlomo on Maseches Kinim. He was 78.

Rav Ingber devoted his life to the study, elucidation, and dissemination of this little-learned masechta, which is known for its complexity and limited practical application in our times.

For centuries, Maseches Kinim remained largely untouched, rarely studied by the broader Torah public due to its intricate content and lack of direct relevance in the absence of the Beis Hamikdash. Rav Ingber took it upon himself to bring clarity and accessibility to this challenging masechta, writing a groundbreaking commentary that made its study attainable for all.

His work, Kan Shlomo, is based on the earlier sefer Kan Meforeshes by Rav Tzvi Gutmacher zt”l, who passed away young and left no descendants. Rav Tzvi’s father, the famed Rav Eliyahu Gutmacher zt”l, promised that anyone who learns his son’s sefer would merit his intercession in Shomayim and receive divine assistance.

Rav Ingber labored on Kan Shlomo for four full years, dedicating the final six months solely to the last Mishnah in the masechta, a passage described by the Tiferes Yisrael as the most difficult Mishnah in all of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah. His sefer presents the text with clear explanations, colorful charts, and detailed diagrams that guide learners through the maze of calculations and concepts that characterize Maseches Kinim.

Explaining his focus on this area, Rav Ingber once said, “Learning Maseches Kinim is known as a special segulah for salvation and mercy. There are early sources that speak of this, such as Sefer Chassidim, which writes that studying neglected masechtos carries unique merit. The Chofetz Chaim expanded on this idea, writing that certain parts of Torah are like a meis mitzvah—abandoned and in need of someone to take responsibility. Every Jew is obligated to engage in such areas, precisely because no one else is.”

He credited the late Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky a”h for spreading awareness of this segulah, noting how many people followed her guidance and experienced miraculous salvations. He recounted the story of a Yid from Yerushalayim, Rav Davidovitz, whose friend was blessed with children after ten years of marriage after learning the masechta. Rav Davidovitz took this cause upon himself and began promoting the study of Kinim across the country, organizing shiurim, forming study groups, and encouraging others to embrace this forgotten corner of Torah.

Rav Ingber himself would travel each evening to give a shiur in Kinim, delivering it with passion and enthusiasm, and constantly working to expand the reach of the masechta’s study.

On Monday, Rav Ingber was laid to rest. The levayah departed from his home on Rechov Zechariah in Bnei Brak and continued to the Segulah Bais Hachaim in Petach Tikvah.

He is survived by his family, who continue in his path of Torah and avodas hakodesh.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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The popular song “Od Yoter Tov” has stirred sharp criticism from one of the most respected figures in authentic Jewish music. Renowned composer and marbitz Torah Rav Hillel Paley, known for penning many classic niggunim that have become staples in the world of Yiddishe music, delivered a scathing critique of the hit, comparing it unfavorably to the controversial “Bishilton HaKoifrim.”

In a special Yom Tov interview with Uri Cohen on the Kol Play radio station, Rav Paley spoke out against what he described as a troubling trend in wedding music and the broader state of Jewish musical culture. “If weddings were still filled with songs that carried meaning and depth, songs focused on the simchas chosson v’kallah, and then suddenly someone introduced Bishilton HaKoifrim, I would say something’s off. We weren’t raised on this. This isn’t something yeshivos ever spoke about. It was never meant to be the main message. Torah is the ikkar,” he said.

Lamenting the spiritual decline in wedding atmospheres, Rav Paley added, “So what happened to our community? How did we end up with Bishilton HaKoifrim? Unfortunately, and painfully, today’s weddings feature very little of the joy of chosson v’kallah, and a lot of whatever happens to be trending. The thing that sits on top of the garbage heap is what becomes the song of the night. It could be Umeianiach B’kedusha with a dance, one singer performs it and everyone follows. It’s shallowness. It’s katnus hamochin—a diminished mindset.”

Turning his attention to “Od Yoter Tov”, Rav Paley didn’t hold back. “Before Bishilton HaKoifrim, there was this bizarre hit called Od Yoter Tov—which, by the way, I believe is far worse. This whole language—once we said, ‘Hashem, we love You,’ and now we’ve upgraded: ‘You love us!’ Are you speaking in the name of the Ribbono Shel Olam? This is a type of expression we’ve never heard before. I understand if baalei teshuvah want to sing it, but what does that have to do with a ben Torah? When was this ever our language? I have strong criticism of this song. In my view, it has no place in the beis midrash and no place among those who are lomdei Torah. And if everyone’s singing it? That’s just a trend.”

Rav Paley concluded with a sobering observation and a note of hope. “Od Yoter Tov ended—it was a plastic shelf song, and with Hashem’s help, we’ll soon forget it ever existed. Then came Bishilton HaKoifrim. This isn’t about zealotry or extremism. It’s about a serious problem of shallowness. But with every descent, there’s hope. Maybe we’ll emerge into great light and return to true songs—songs of kedushah, hallel, and hoda’ah.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Pinchas Edri zt”l, longtime Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Givatayim. Rav Edri was niftar Monday evening at the age of 81 after battling illness in recent years. He served in his position for decades, endearing the rabbanus to the city’s residents and leaving behind a legacy of leadership, Torah, and ahavas Yisroel.

The levayah was held today at the beis medrash Rav Edri founded and nurtured, Rabi Meir Baal Hanes, located on Rechov Kibbutz Galuyos in Givatayim. The procession continued to the Nachalas Yitzchok Bais Hachaim, where Rav Edri was buried beside his predecessor, Rav Yosef Meir Gliksberg zt”l.

Rav Edri was born in Morocco on the 5th of Teves in 1944 to his father Rav Yaakov Edri zt”l and his mother Rabbanit Simcha a”h. He studied at the Otzar HaTorah institutions in Marrakesh and moved to Eretz Yisroel at age 17. Before his aliyah, he received semichah from two of the great Torah giants of Morocco: Rav Shalom Messas zt”l, who later served as Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim, and Rav Makhlouf Abuchatzeira zt”l, Chief Rabbi of Marrakesh.

He began his rabbinic career as the rav of Moshav Aseret and later served as the regional rabbi of Gderot in southern Israel, also acting as Chairman of the Rabbis of the Settlements Council.

In 1982, following the passing of the previous Sephardic rav of Givatayim, Rav Yehoshua Moshe zt”l — a talmid of the Ben Ish Chai and the city’s first Sephardic rav — Rav Edri was appointed Chief Rabbi of Givatayim. In this role, he dedicated himself to bringing Jews closer to the Ribono Shel Olam. He delivered shiurim throughout the city and inspired countless people with his warmth and wisdom. Though Givatayim was known as a largely secular city, Rav Edri managed to reach the hearts of its residents with ahavas Yisroel and warmth. He was beloved by all and was a respected presence at national rabbinic conferences.

Rav Edri was deeply connected to influential leaders, government officials, and rabbanim, utilizing those relationships to strengthen Torah life and uphold kedushas Yisroel. He maintained close ties with Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, and he viewed himself as a talmid of the Rishon Letzion Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l.

He established a beis medrash for rabbanim called Shalom Yisrael, which became a hub for leading poskim and rabbanim to discuss halachic and communal issues. Rav Edri played an active role in hosting gatherings and forums attended by the Rishon Letzion and other prominent Torah leaders. He was known for his eloquence and grace in speech, capturing the attention of audiences wherever he spoke.

In addition to his role as Chief Rabbi, he served as rav of the Rabi Meir Baal Hanes shul in Givatayim.

He served alongside Rav Yosef Meir Gliksberg zt”l, Ashkenazic rav of Givatayim and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, who passed away this past Teves. After retiring recently, Rav Edri was succeeded by Rav Chen Saida and Rav Asher Wiesel.

Rav Edri is survived by an illustrious family devoted to Torah and avodas hakodesh. His son Rav Eliav Edri is a senior rav in Ashdod and a prominent maggid shiur who has authored the well-known ten-volume series Benoam Sichah. His son Rav Moshe Yosef Edri is the head of Kollel Rav Pe’alim and a dayan who recently began delivering shiurim in Givatayim alongside his father. Another son, Rav Yaakov Edri, is a kollel yungerman in Har Nof and the son-in-law of former Interior Minister Rav Eliyahu Suissa. Rav Yitzchak Edri, another son, is married to the daughter of Rav Amram Ibgui, former Deputy Mayor of Bnei Brak. Among his sons-in-law are Rav Michoel Elmalich, a kollel yungerman in Har Nof and the son of Rav Moshe Elmalich zt”l, rav of Atlit; Rav Yisrael Meir Biton, Chief Rabbi of the city of Chadera; and Rav Yechiel Vizgan, a prominent talmid chacham from Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

During a meeting at the White House on Monday, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele dismissed the idea of returning a deported man to the United States, despite a Justice Department admission that his removal was a mistake.

“How can I return him to the United States? Like if I smuggle him into the United States?” Bukele remarked in response to a question about Kilmar Abrego Garcia while seated next to President Donald Trump. “Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”

When pressed on whether Abrego Garcia would be freed in El Salvador, Bukele stated, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists.”

Trump then turned his attention to the reporters in the room and accused them of having ulterior motives. “They’d love to have a criminal released into our country. These are sick people,” he said.

Trump added that he encouraged Bukele to accept “as many criminals as possible.”

According to court records, neither U.S. nor Salvadoran authorities have charged Abrego Garcia with any crimes.

The Justice Department admitted that his deportation violated a 2019 immigration judge’s ruling that prohibited his removal to El Salvador. The Supreme Court later ruled that sending him back was unlawful and ordered the administration to “facilitate” his return, while respecting executive branch authority.

In a declaration submitted Monday, the administration referenced Bukele’s White House comments and reiterated its stance that it lacks the legal power to retrieve Abrego Garcia. “DHS does not have authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation,” wrote Joseph Mazzara, acting general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.

At the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the Supreme Court’s instructions, saying, “the foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the president of the United States, not by a court, and no court in the United States has a right to conduct a foreign policy of the United States.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in, clarifying that any repatriation effort would depend entirely on El Salvador’s cooperation. “If they want to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane. That’s up for El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us.”

Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, told Fox News on Monday morning that Abrego Garcia was rightfully deported. “He was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador,” Miller said, contradicting the Justice Department’s repeated legal filings that labeled the deportation an “administrative error.”

“This was the right person sent to the right place,” Miller added, even as the Supreme Court deemed the removal illegal in a ruling the prior week.

The high court’s decision clearly stated, “The United States acknowledges that Abrego Garcia was subject to a withholding order forbidding his removal to El Salvador, and that the removal to El Salvador was therefore illegal,” attributing the mistake to an “administrative error.”

Miller further insisted that if Bukele returned Abrego Garcia, the U.S. would deport him again immediately. “He would be deported the second time to El Salvador.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized both the Trump administration and Bukele’s handling of the matter. “The Trump administration’s position, in my view, is absolutely unsustainable, as is the position of the president of El Salvador,” he told reporters.

“They are clearly just snubbing their nose at the courts, including the Supreme Court. And the courts, in my view, need to exercise their ability to sanction people who ignore court orders,” Van Hollen added, noting he’s seeking a meeting with Bukele. Abrego Garcia had previously lived in Maryland.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed Bukele’s stance, saying in a statement, “The law is clear, due process was grossly violated. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.”

The Trump administration previously arranged a $6 million deal with El Salvador to detain individuals it classifies as members of dangerous gangs such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and MS-13, both labeled as terrorist organizations by the administration.

Although a 2019 immigration judge linked Abrego Garcia to MS-13, he denies any such ties.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who is overseeing the case seeking his return, noted that neither American nor Salvadoran officials have criminal charges against him and described the gang affiliation as a single, weak accusation.

“The ‘evidence’ against Abrego Garcia consisted of nothing more than his Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, and a vague, uncorroborated allegation from a confidential informant claiming he belonged to MS-13’s ‘Western’ clique in New York — a place he has never lived,” Xinis ruled.

On Fox News, Miller claimed that being affiliated with MS-13 nullified the judge’s order, despite the U.S. government never making that legal argument in court.

During the White House meeting, Miller mischaracterized Xinis’ decision, saying she “had tried to tell the administration that they had to kidnap a citizen of El Salvador and fly him back here.”

In reality, Xinis, backed by the Supreme Court, instructed the government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return—a directive Miller interpreted as meaning the U.S. would accept his return if El Salvador voluntarily agreed.

During the public portion of the Oval Office meeting, no Trump official asked Bukele to send Abrego Garcia back. Bondi, Rubio, and Miller each said that decision lay solely with the Salvadoran government.

Abrego Garcia’s legal team at Murray Osorio PLLC released a statement raising alarms about his continued confinement in El Salvador in defiance of the court’s ruling.

“Let us be clear: the responsibility to return Mr. Abrego Garcia lies squarely with the United States government. His deportation was not just an administrative error—it was a constitutional failure,” the statement read.

“We urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to act now—and with the urgency this moment demands. Delays in executing the Supreme Court’s directive are unacceptable. We call for immediate transparency and action to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home,” the lawyers added.

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia also argued that U.S. officials exercise more authority over the Salvadoran prison than they admit, given the $6 million the Trump administration is paying to keep deportees incarcerated there.

Miller dismissed the DOJ’s earlier admission that the deportation had been a mistake. He told Fox News the acknowledgment came from “a DOJ lawyer who has since been relieved of duty, a saboteur, a Democrat.”

However, that claim doesn’t align with the facts. Solicitor General D. John Sauer also described the deportation as an “administrative error” in a filing submitted to the Supreme Court last week.

Following the high court’s ruling, Judge Xinis ordered the federal government to “take all available steps to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the United States as soon as possible” and to report back with “the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps.”

Initially, the administration failed to provide that information, but a later court filing revealed that Abrego Garcia “is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. He is alive and secure in that facility.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to assert that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine began under President Joe Biden’s leadership, not his own.

“The war between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening,” Trump posted, stressing that he “had nothing to do with this war” and is actively seeking to “get the death and destruction to stop.”

Trump also linked the outbreak of war to the results of the last presidential election. “If the 2020 presidential election was not rigged, and it was, in so many ways, that horrible war would never have happened,” he said. He criticized both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Biden, saying, “President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and Crooked Joe Biden did an absolutely horrible job in allowing this travesty to begin. There were so many ways of preventing it from ever starting. But that is the past. Now we have to get it to stop, and fast. So sad!”

Zelenskyy, speaking on CBS’s 60 Minutes Sunday, urged Trump to support Ukraine’s efforts against Russian aggression. “President Trump, being a strong president of a strong country, must be on Ukraine’s side,” he said. “I think it is wrong that America wants to be neutral.”

The Ukrainian leader also issued a grim caution about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader intentions. “If we do not stand firm, he [Putin] will advance further,” Zelenskyy told CBS News. “It is not just idle speculation; the threat is real. Putin’s ultimate goal is to revive the Russian empire and reclaim territories currently under NATO protection. Considering all of this, I believe it could escalate into a world war. There won’t be a safe place, there won’t be a safe place for [anyone].”

{Matzav.com}