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Report: Netanyahu Received Early Intelligence on Hamas Invasion Blueprint Years Before October 7

Matzav -

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was provided with intelligence assessments as far back as 2018 outlining Hamas’s detailed plans for a large-scale invasion of southern Israel, according to a report published Tuesday based on classified documents and testimony from senior officials.

The Ynet news outlet reported that between 2018 and 2022, Hamas formulated an extensive operational strategy for a coordinated, multi-front assault targeting Israeli military installations and civilian communities near Gaza. The blueprint, later compiled into a file referred to as “Jericho’s Walls,” envisioned breaching the border fence at numerous locations and sending thousands of armed operatives into Israeli territory.

That strategy ultimately materialized on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal cross-border attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead, resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, and ignited a prolonged war in Gaza lasting two years.

According to Ynet, Netanyahu — who has held the premiership since 2009, aside from an 18-month interval in 2021-2022 — was shown intelligence connected to the “Jericho’s Walls” framework on multiple occasions over the years. This stands in contrast to his public statements after October 7 in which he denied having prior knowledge of such a plan.

The first documented instance cited in the report dates to April 2018. At that time, the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate circulated a classified assessment to high-level officials. Recipients reportedly included the military secretaries to the prime minister and defense minister, the National Security Council, the chiefs of Shin Bet and Mossad, and the office of the IDF chief of staff.

One of the intelligence documents referenced by Ynet carried a subheading posing the question: “Is Hamas’s military wing building up its force for a broad attack deep into our territory?”

The 2018 assessment warned that Hamas was crafting “a plan for an initiated offensive maneuver with a broad order of [troops in] battle (six reserve battalions; approximately 3,000 fighters)” designed to overrun IDF positions while simultaneously striking civilian communities “in the border communities and deep inside Israel.”

The report underscored the gravity of the threat, stating that “the scope of the plan and its complexity are exceptional.” Although some intelligence analysts questioned whether Hamas possessed the immediate capacity to execute the entire operation, they cautioned that “the plan illustrates a new and broader threat scenario than before.”

The existence of the 2018 “Jericho’s Walls” document cited by Ynet was confirmed last year by the IDF in an internal Military Intelligence Directorate review examining the intelligence breakdown preceding October 7.

That internal review, which anticipated several elements later seen in the October 7 assault, cited the Hamas plan as declaring that “forces from five [elite] Nukhba companies should attack and destroy the posts belonging to the [IDF] Gaza Division… everything will be done above ground… with [rocket] fire… attack the kibbutzim in order to take hostages… focus on critical sites… livestream from the posts and kibbutzim.”

According to the military probe, what began as a conceptual idea within Hamas evolved over time into a formalized strategy and received official internal authorization in 2019.

Netanyahu has consistently rejected claims that he was warned of an impending large-scale Hamas attack in the years prior to October 7. In response to questions from State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman during a review of the failures surrounding the assault, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that “the prime minister never received and was never briefed on the ‘Jericho’s Walls’ document” before the war began, and that he was “never presented with any Hamas plan for a mass raid into Israeli territory.”

However, materials released by Netanyahu himself appear to complicate that position. In a 55-page document submitted to the State Comptroller last week and later made public, Netanyahu acknowledged that he had received the April 2018 intelligence assessment. In that submission, he quoted a restrained portion of the evaluation noting that Hamas had “a basic capability to carry out several simultaneous raids,” but that under existing conditions, “it is not likely at this time.”

The published version did not include the paragraph’s final sentence, which warned that the document reflected Hamas’s long-term intentions and its plans to significantly expand its military capabilities.

A former senior intelligence official cited by Ynet said Netanyahu’s duty “was to ensure there [was] no repetition of the Military Intelligence assessment on the eve of Yom Kippur 1973,” referencing the well-known intelligence misjudgments preceding the Egyptian-Syrian surprise attack that triggered the Yom Kippur War.

“Back then, intelligence said ‘low probability,’ and the political echelon simply accepted it as a binding assessment without asking questions or checking on its own,” the official added. “Any serious leader would say in this situation: You received the plan in 2018, and even if Hamas is currently far from operational capability, this must be taken into account.”

Ynet further reported that in 2018, Unit 8200 obtained an Arabic Hamas document laying out a sweeping assault plan. It called for “launching a comprehensive offensive operation against the Zionist entity with the aim of subduing the enemy,” including attacks on the Re’im base, numerous communities along the Gaza border, and more distant targets such as Ashdod, Ashkelon, and strategic infrastructure. The document specified that “the attack will be carried out by six battalions,” with the “main effort” occurring above ground.

The Shin Bet also reviewed the Hamas plan and drafted its own analysis, describing the document’s “unusual and troubling characteristics.” That assessment was distributed to several entities, including the National Security Council, which operates under the prime minister’s authority.

One source quoted by Ynet said the Shin Bet’s findings were transmitted directly to Netanyahu.

In May 2022, Military Intelligence obtained an additional version of the Hamas invasion blueprint, dated August 2021, which was incorporated into the “Jericho’s Walls” file. That iteration likewise described large numbers of Nukhba Force operatives breaching the Gaza Division’s defenses and advancing into cities in southern Israel.

The document was presented to senior IDF intelligence officials, who at the time judged the scenario to be implausible. During a November 2022 Southern Command meeting reviewing potential conflict scenarios in Gaza, the “Jericho’s Walls” plan appeared at the bottom of a list of assessments.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid were serving as prime ministers for most of 2022, including in May and November, while Netanyahu was then leader of the opposition.

In 2023, after Netanyahu returned to office, the Intelligence Directorate collected new intelligence regarding Hamas training exercises simulating a cross-border invasion in the months leading up to October 7. Some personnel within Unit 8200 concluded that Hamas’s invasion concept had evolved into an actionable and concrete plan.

According to the IDF’s internal investigations, these conclusions were conveyed through emails and meetings to intelligence officers at Southern Command and to regional 8200 officers stationed in southern Israel. However, the updated assessments did not reach senior decision-makers, including top intelligence leadership.

Although Netanyahu was not personally briefed on the 2022 and 2023 updates to the “Jericho’s Walls” file, a senior intelligence source told Ynet, “Even if the army commanders failed to [connect the dots] themselves, the obligation of the prime minister is to demand answers regarding Hamas’s intentions.” “Netanyahu did nothing,” the source said.

Despite documentary evidence indicating that Netanyahu was exposed to Hamas invasion planning as early as 2018, he has maintained that the “Jericho’s Walls” file refers only to the 2022 version presented during the year he was not in office. Critics argue that this interpretation is intended to distance him from responsibility for the failure to prevent the October 7 attack.

{Matzav.com}

Why It Took So Long for FBI to Get Nest Camera Footage of Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Suspect

Matzav -

Federal authorities have made public the first images of the individual suspected in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, ten days after the 84-year-old grandmother disappeared from her Arizona residence. The delay in releasing the footage stemmed from two critical issues: the home’s security camera had been removed, and Guthrie did not have a subscription to the cloud back-up service that would have automatically preserved the video.

The newly released footage, recovered from a missing Nest camera, shows a masked figure tampering with the device outside Guthrie’s Tucson home. According to one legal expert, the video’s recovery highlights the technological reach of Google, Nest’s parent company.

Guthrie had not enrolled in a Google Home subscription plan, which for $10 per month — or $100 annually — stores motion-activated or “event” recordings for up to 30 days, even if the physical camera is taken. Without that service, retrieving the footage required significant additional effort.

“It gives us some insight to what Google is capable of,” former prosecutor and current criminal defense lawyer John W. Day told The NY Post.

“Even without paid subscription, there is a way to go to some data center and spend a lot of time and effort to try to find that particular camera, at that particular time without a subscription,” Day said. “You can only imagine how difficult that was if it took 10 days to get there.”

Day outlined three primary paths investigators may have used to obtain the footage. Federal authorities could have secured a search warrant compelling Google to provide the data. Alternatively, Guthrie’s family may have authorized the company to search for it. A third possibility is that Google voluntarily assisted in locating the recording.

“Everyone has the same incentive, which is to find this sweet woman before too long,” Day said. “Google had every reason to cooperate. The family has got to be grateful, law enforcement has to be grateful.”

“It’s a miraculous turn of events because this could be the thing that leads to a break in the case,” the attorney added.

Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31, when her son-in-law dropped her off at her home around 9:45 p.m. On Feb. 2, the case was officially classified as a criminal investigation after media outlets received what authorities described as a $6 ransom demand. The deadline referenced in the note passed without any publicly known developments regarding her condition.

The video of the masked individual interfering with the camera appeared to strengthen suspicions that the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie was abducted.

“We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah wrote in a social media post Tuesday.

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13-Year-Old Jewish Boy Attacked in Paris; One Suspect Arrested

Yeshiva World News -

A 13-year-old Jewish boy was brutally attacked on Monday evening in Paris’s 18th arrondissement while on his way to shul. Five thugs assaulted him, beat him, threatened him with a knife, and robbed him while shouting antisemitic slurs. It happened at around 7:20 p.m. on Boulevard de la Chapelle. The boy told the police that […]

Report: Iran Buries Tunnel Entrances at Isfahan Nuclear Site Amid Fears of US or Israeli Strike

Matzav -

New satellite imagery indicates that Iran has covered all tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear facility with soil, a move that analysts say reflects deep concern in Tehran over the possibility of an American or Israeli military attack.

In a new report released this week, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security stated that images captured on Sunday show two of the tunnel openings fully buried. The third entrance, located on the northern side of the complex, appears to have been reinforced with what the group described as “additional passive defense measures.”

According to the institute, vehicles are no longer visible near the entrances, a change that suggests Iran may be bracing for potential airstrikes or even a ground operation by US or Israeli forces targeting the site.

“Backfilling the tunnel entrances would help dampen any potential airstrike and also make ground access in a special forces raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be housed inside difficult,” the institute said, suggesting that Tehran may have relocated sensitive nuclear material into the tunnels for protection.

“Preparations like these were last observed in the days before Operation Midnight Hammer struck facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” the institute added, using a different spelling for the Isfahan site and referencing US strikes carried out against those facilities last June.

“It appears clear that the Iranians are seriously concerned about a US/Israeli aerial attack and/or raid against this particularly hardened nuclear facility,” the US-based institute said.

Before Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June, the Islamic Republic operated three primary nuclear facilities tied to its atomic program. The Isfahan site, located outside the city of the same name, was primarily known for producing uranium gas used in centrifuges for enrichment.

During the conflict last year, Israel struck Isfahan at the outset, and US forces later carried out additional attacks using bunker-buster munitions and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The White House’s National Security Strategy, published in November, said the US operation “significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program,” though detailed assessments of the damage have not been made public.

Since those strikes, Iran has barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from revisiting the targeted facilities.

Satellite photographs obtained last month showed new roofing structures at the Isfahan site. The Institute for Science and International Security assessed that the construction appeared aimed at enabling Iran to “recover any sort of remaining assets or rubble without letting us know what they are getting out of there.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed Iran to enter negotiations over its nuclear activities, warning that failure to do so could trigger American military action. His initial threats were also linked to Iran’s violent suppression of domestic protests, during which thousands were reportedly killed.

The United States has called on Iran to surrender its stockpile of uranium enriched to as much as 60 percent purity — a level that, according to last year’s estimate by the UN nuclear watchdog, totals more than 440 kilograms (970 pounds) and is only a short technical step from the 90 percent enrichment considered weapons-grade.

Iran continues to deny that it is pursuing nuclear weapons. At the same time, it has enriched uranium beyond levels needed for civilian purposes, limited access for international inspectors, and expanded its ballistic missile program. Prior to the 12-day war in June, Israeli officials asserted that Iran had recently advanced toward weaponization.

During negotiations held in Oman last week, US and Iranian representatives agreed to focus discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program. However, Washington and Israel have also sought to broaden the agenda to include Iran’s ballistic missile development and its backing of regional proxy terror groups, a proposal Tehran has rejected.

{Matzav.com}

Netanyahu Arrives In Washington | Trump: Iran Would Be Foolish Not To Make A Deal

Matzav -

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday evening local time for a high-stakes visit that will include a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, as tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program once again take center stage.

Shortly after landing, Netanyahu went to Blair House, where he met with Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussion focused on developments in the region, including the latest diplomatic efforts involving Tehran. Witkoff and Kushner briefed the prime minister on the initial round of negotiations they conducted with Iranian officials last Friday.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Washington time (6:00 p.m. Israel time). The upcoming session will mark their seventh meeting since Trump began his second term in office, and the sixth time they have convened at the White House. Their most recent encounter took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

As Netanyahu prepared for his talks, Trump spoke publicly about Iran in an interview with Fox Business Network, expressing confidence that Tehran is inclined to negotiate over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He cautioned that failing to do so would be a serious miscalculation.

“We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn’t. We took out their nuclear power last time and we’ll have to see if we take out more this time,” said the President.

“They want to make a deal. They wouldn’t talk to anybody else, but they’re talking to me,” he continued. “Obama and Biden, what they did in terms of creating a monster with Iran was terrible.”

.@POTUS: We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time and we'll have to see if we take out more this time… pic.twitter.com/q1G8qMvmHm

— Department of State (@StateDept) February 10, 2026

In separate remarks to Channel 12 News earlier in the day, Trump made clear that military options remain on the table should negotiations collapse. Referring to actions taken roughly six months ago, he indicated he would not hesitate to respond again if diplomacy fails.

Trump reiterated that his preference is for a negotiated settlement but underscored that the United States is prepared to act if necessary. “The Iranians very much want to reach a deal. Either we make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough – like last time,” he said.

At the same time, Trump revealed that he is weighing the possibility of reinforcing American naval forces in the region. “We have an armada there, and maybe another one on the way,” the President added.

According to Trump, his meeting with Netanyahu will center largely on the Iranian issue. He also stated that the Israeli prime minister is not feeling pressured by the renewed talks but shares an interest in securing a strong agreement. “I don’t think Netanyahu is pressured by the talks with Iran. He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal.”

{Matzav.com}

A 14-Year-Old Girl Described Being Zip-Tied During Idaho Raid, Sparking Fresh Questions About ICE Tactics

Matzav -

A federal civil rights lawsuit is challenging a large-scale October raid at a popular horse racing venue in Canyon County, Idaho, alleging that children — including U.S. citizens — were zip-tied and traumatized during a sweeping law enforcement operation, CBS News reports.

The action, carried out at La Catedral Arena, resulted in the detention of 105 undocumented immigrants and has ignited a broader debate over immigration enforcement tactics used under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue initially praised the operation, describing it as a successful effort that led to the apprehension of more than 100 undocumented immigrants. He also rejected claims that officers restrained children with zip ties during the raid.

However, after being shown photographs obtained by CBS News, Donahue responded differently. The images appear to show zip ties and bruising on the wrists of 14-year-old SueHey Romero, a U.S. citizen who had been caring for her younger siblings, ages 6 and 8, when officers in tactical gear swept through the event and confined attendees to the racetrack.

“God bless her. I’m sorry she went through that,” Donahue said. The sheriff, who participated in the raid on horseback, defended the broader operation. “But law enforcement is not evil because we contained everybody and detained them until we sorted it out. That’s not evil.”

The use of armored vehicles and flashbang grenades at a family recreation event has raised concerns about aggressive enforcement strategies. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in federal court, accusing authorities of mistreating families — many of them American citizens of Hispanic heritage — who had gathered for a weekend outing.

The events in this farming community about an hour from Boise have received less national attention than similar immigration operations elsewhere, including in Minnesota. There, federal agents’ conduct involving children has drawn intense scrutiny. In one reported case, a family alleged that tear gas canisters were deployed beneath a vehicle carrying six children. Another widely circulated image showed 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos wearing a hat with bunny ears and holding a Spiderman backpack as he was taken into custody.

The ACLU argues that what happened in Idaho reflects a troubling trend in which children are exposed to forceful federal operations. According to the complaint, the physical injuries and emotional trauma inflicted during the raid could have long-term consequences.

“They have done long lasting damage to children,” said Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, the ACLU’s deputy project director on policing. “At this moment, when the United States Congress is confronted with a question of how to reign in ICE…the answer is they need to reign in ICE to protect our children.”

Federal officials have denied that minors were zip-tied during the Idaho operation.

“ICE didn’t zip tie, restrain, or arrest any children,” Homeland Security spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin told CBS News in a statement.”

She added, “ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children. This is the kind of garbage rhetoric contributing to our officers facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

Yet several detainees have provided accounts that contradict those denials. In an interview with CBS News, SueHey described officers who, she said, refused to identify their agencies and moved her along with hundreds of others onto the racetrack before binding her hands with plastic restraints.

“I’m just like there crying, like I’m struggling to breathe,” she said. “I can’t even get the words out.”

Her mother, Anabel Romero, said she too was restrained and unable to comfort her daughter.

“I can’t hold her because you guys won’t let me go,” Romero recalled telling the agents. “I’m like, she’s only 14.”

Those attending the races said the scene shifted abruptly when a helicopter flew low overhead, followed by five armored vehicles. Video obtained by CBS News captures the arrival of roughly 200 officers who then fanned out across the property. Some children reported that firearms were pointed in their direction, while others described rubber bullets flying past.

According to the lawsuit, officers shattered vehicle windows where children had sought shelter from the rain. One 8-year-old boy later told a local news outlet that he had to remove small shards of glass from his mouth.

The complaint also details the experience of Juana Rodriguez, who says she was restrained for hours while her 3-year-old son cried beside her. Authorities refused her requests to hold him, instructing the child instead to grasp his mother’s pocket, which had been turned inside out, according to the filing.

“As a parent, nothing is more heartbreaking than hearing your child cry out in fear and being told you cannot hold or comfort them,” Rodriguez said in a statement provided to CBS News by the ACLU. “I am a proud U.S. citizen, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The lawsuit contends that several minors were placed in hard plastic restraints and later displayed welts and bruises. Initially, the FBI’s Boise field office characterized reports of children being zip-tied as “completely false.” That statement was later modified to clarify that no “young” children were restrained. The Caldwell Police Department subsequently acknowledged that minors had been zip-tied.

Romero attended the event with her three children, all U.S. citizens. While her two younger children were not restrained, she said she witnessed aggressive tactics firsthand.

She described the gathering as a family-oriented event with raffles, toy vendors, and traditional Mexican food. The mood shifted when a black helicopter descended over the field, and chaos followed.

“All of a sudden I just see people running and screaming,” Romero said, recalling agents in full tactical gear pointing weapons. She hid briefly in a horse stall while her children remained in the family truck. When officers began searching the stalls, she asked them to identify themselves.

“All I’m asking is for clarification, who are you and why am I being detained,” she said. According to Romero, one of the armed men responded: “I’m gonna [expletive] blow your head off”

“They kicked me, they punched me, they stepped on me,”she said.

SueHey said she saw agents in military-style uniforms “running around, opening car doors, and yelling at people to get onto the track.” When officers opened her family’s truck, she feared for her siblings’ safety. She said the officers pulled her from the vehicle by force.

“I was brave and I opened the door because I wanted to protect my sister,” 6-year-old Alfredo told CBS News.

SueHey said she broke free momentarily to avoid being separated from her siblings. Eventually, the children were directed to the racetrack, where large numbers of attendees had been gathered.

Romero, with her hands bound behind her back, was brought to the same location and reunited with her children. She said officers then restrained SueHey despite her protests.

Romero said she pleaded with them to bind her daughter’s hands in front rather than behind her back, believing it would reduce the pain. She said the officers agreed.

Hours later, ICE agents concluded that the family members were U.S. citizens. Romero said she was questioned about her children’s differing last names.

“I didn’t know I needed to carry their birth certificates around,” she said.

Eventually, the restraints were removed and the family was released. Photographs appear to show deep bruising on SueHey’s wrists. Romero said the physical marks would fade, but the emotional impact would linger.

“My parents, they came over here [from Mexico] to give us a better life,” she told CBS News. “That day, I felt like our freedom was taken away from us.”

Authorities have said the objective of the operation was to dismantle what they suspected to be an illegal gambling ring at the racetrack. The FBI secured a federal warrant to arrest five individuals believed to be running the unlicensed enterprise.

However, numerous federal and local agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement — arrived in force. Witnesses said officers began detaining hundreds of predominantly Latino attendees to verify their immigration status.

The ACLU alleges that law enforcement “conspired to abuse a criminal search warrant as cover to go fishing for immigration arrests at an event where they knew they would encounter a large number of Latino individuals.”

According to the complaint, attendees were questioned about their legal status and instructed to provide documentation. By the conclusion of the operation, 105 individuals were identified as undocumented and transported to detention facilities. Roughly 375 others, determined to be U.S. citizens or lawful residents, were released.

Local immigration attorney Nikki Ramirez-Smith, who responded to the scene, said she believes authorities miscalculated the nature of the event and noted that many of those detained had lived in the country for decades without criminal records.

“My opinion is they didn’t know that most of the people there were American citizens,” Ramirez said. “I think law enforcement misjudged it because the event is in Spanish.”

Sheriff Donahue denied that the gambling warrant was used as a pretext for an immigration sweep. He described the raid as a four-year FBI investigation into suspected cartel involvement and said ICE’s role was not the primary focus.

“We knew there was cartel involvement in this operation,” the sheriff said. “We knew that to be true. [It’s] why we went in.”

He maintained that immigration enforcement was “secondary or tertiary.”

Four months after the raid, the only criminal charges filed were against the five individuals accused of operating the unlicensed gambling enterprise.

The lawsuit states that the children affected continue to struggle emotionally. One 3-year-old plaintiff, identified as Y.R., is now fearful of police, according to his mother. A 15-year-old identified as Y.L. reportedly experiences recurring nightmares about being detained at gunpoint.

“The lasting fear and emotional distress is widespread,” the complaint says.

Donahue acknowledged that trust between law enforcement and the local Latino community has been damaged. Romero agreed, saying the operation fractured relationships that had taken years to build.

SueHey said the experience has changed how she views authorities and would make her hesitant to call for help.

“How are they gonna treat me even though I’m a U.S. citizen, even if I’m not doing anything wrong, even if I’m just reporting a crime?” she said. “How are they gonna treat me?”

{Matzav.com}

Antisemitism in Paris: Jewish Boy Brutally Assaulted On Way To Shul

Yeshiva World News -

A 13-year-old Jewish boy was brutally attacked on Monday evening in Paris’s 18th arrondissement while on his way to shul. Five thugs assaulted him, beat him, threatened him with a knife, and robbed him while shouting antisemitic slurs. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the incident took place at around 7:20 p.m. on Boulevard de […]

VP Vance Deletes Post On Recognition of Armenian Genocide

Matzav -

A message posted Tuesday on Vice President JD Vance’s X account recognizing the Armenian genocide was later removed, prompting clarification from the White House that there has been no shift in U.S. policy following his participation in a wreath-laying ceremony in Armenia.

The now-deleted post said that Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, took part in the ceremony to commemorate the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide. The wording stood in contrast to current Trump administration policy regarding the terminology used to describe the events.

For decades, Armenians have pressed governments around the world to formally recognize the mass killings carried out between 1915 and 1917 under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, maintaining that approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire, has consistently denied that the killings, arrests and forced deportations of Armenians during that period constitute genocide.

Successive U.S. administrations have generally refrained from officially labeling the events as “genocide,” citing the potential diplomatic fallout with Turkey, a strategic ally in the region. In 2021, President Joe Biden formally referred to the Ottoman Empire’s actions against Armenians as “genocide,” drawing sharp condemnation from Ankara.

A spokesperson for Vance said the post published Tuesday was the work of staff members who were not traveling as part of the official delegation.

The White House later issued a statement underscoring that there has been no change in longstanding policy, pointing to an earlier Armenian Remembrance Day message. Vance’s X account subsequently shared a revised, more measured post that included an image of the handwritten note he left in the guest book at the ceremony: “In solemn remembrance of the lives lost, we honor the resilience and enduring spirit of the Armenian people.”

{Matzav.com}

FDA Refuses to Consider Moderna’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Application

Yeshiva World News -

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna’s application for a new flu vaccine made with Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology, the company announced Tuesday. The news is the latest sign of the FDA’s heightened scrutiny of vaccines under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly those using mRNA technology, which he has […]

“DEATH TO AMERICA!”: Iran Marks 47th Anniversary Of 1979 Revolution Amid U.S. Pressure and Protest Anger

Yeshiva World News -

Iran marked the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on Wednesday as the country’s theocracy remains under pressure, both from U.S. President Donald Trump who suggested sending another aircraft carrier group to the Middle East and a public angrily denouncing Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. The commemoration represented a spit-screen view of life in […]

Wave Of Arrests Continue: 4 Yeshiva Bochurim Arrested In Past 24 Hours

Yeshiva World News -

The Notnim Gav organization on Wednesday announced the arrests of four yeshivah bochurim in the past day. One bochur was arrested at his home by the military police in Hod HaSharon. Overnight, Israel Police officers arrested two yeshivah bochurim, one in Givat Ze’ev and one in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, and handed them over […]

FAA Mysteriously Closes Airspace Around El Paso, Texas, Citing “Special Security Reasons”

Yeshiva World News -

The Federal Aviation Administration is closing the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days, grounding all flights to and from the airport. A notice posted on the FAA’s website said the temporary flight restrictions were for “special security reasons,” but did not provide additional details. The closure does not include Mexican […]

Tropical Cyclone Gezani Batters Madagascar, Leaves Nine Dead

Yeshiva World News -

Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall in Madagascar’s main port city, unleashing winds that collapsed houses and left at least nine people dead on the Indian Ocean island, authorities said Wednesday. Wind speeds exceeded 195 kph (121 mph) and Madagascar’s weather service issued red alerts for several regions, warning of possible floods and landslides as Gezani […]

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