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*State Department Spoke Person Tammy Bruce:* “The hostages have to be released. Hamas cannot continue to have any role or exist in Gaza … The goals have not changed.”

PAM BONDI: “These are enemies of our state, of our country, and they should be deported … I’d start self-deporting if I were you because we’re going to find you.”

Last week, the IDF dismantled a reservist platoon and dismissed several officers after they vandalized Palestinian property, graffitied slogans on buildings, and damaged equipment during a counter-terror operation in the Deheisha refugee camp near Bethlehem, exceeding the procedures and commands given prior to the raid.

Many of those listed as war fatalities in Gaza actually died of natural causes or did not die at all, a Palestinian health official working for Hamas admitted, following an analysis that showed massive discrepancies in casualty tallies.

The head of the statistics team at Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry, Zaher al-Wahidi, made the admission to Sky News after an analysis by the HonestReporting nonprofit last week found that some 3,400 individuals listed as war casualties in earlier tallies had been dropped from the ministry’s latest update.

Comparing the October and August tallies to the March one, HonestReporting researcher Salo Aizenberg found “around 3,400 names missing” from the latest one, “including over 1,000 minors,” he told JNS.

“We realized that a lot of people died a natural death,” Wahidi told Sky News regarding the October tally. “Maybe they were near an explosion and they had a heart attack, or houses caused them pneumonia or hypothermia. All these cases we don’t [attribute to] the war,” he said.

According to Sky News, 1,852 people appearing in October’s official list of war fatalities were removed from the March one after it was found that some had died of natural causes or were alive but had been imprisoned. In total, 3,952 names have been removed in several corrections from Gaza’s reported death toll since the war began, according to the outlet.

Whereas the Gaza Health Ministry had previously admitted error that it attributed to reporting mechanism issues, it had not conceded that natural deaths were counted along with war casualties.

The March statistics changed the age distribution of reported fatalities in Gaza: Of all deaths recorded by Hamas between the ages of 13 to 55, which is the general combat age for Hamas fighters, 72% were male, according to the HonestReporting analysis.

Sky News in its analysis said that 44% of remaining deaths were “working-age men,” meaning men aged 18-60, while in the previous tally they comprised 41%. The percentage of women dropped from 19% in the November tally to 17% in the corrected March tally, according to Sky News. The list of deaths provided by the Hamas-run ministry stood at 50,609 on Saturday following the removals.

The Israel Defense Forces has said some 17,000 terrorists have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, when approximately 6,000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdering some 1,200 people and abducting another 251. Israel launched an ongoing military campaign to dismantle Hamas and retrieve its hostages.

The admission that natural deaths had been included in the war casualty lists is “a major issue,” said Aizenberg. Before his work for HonestReporting, which focuses on exposing anti-Israel bias in the media, Aizenberg participated in the writing of a report on Gaza death statistics for the London-based Henry Jackson Society security think tank. That report from December indicated that the latest casualty figure at the time included the approximately 5,000 people who die of natural causes each year in the Gaza Strip.

To date, the Hamas-run ministry has not published a list of natural deaths since Oct. 7, 2023. The latest admission “means that every list that they’ve ever issued is a mix of war deaths and natural deaths,” said Aizenberg.

The Health Ministry figures also do not distinguish between combatants and noncombatants. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Multiple injuries reported after an Egged bus flipped in Rishon Letzion. MDA paramedics and medics provided medical treatment and transported 22 injured individuals to Wolfson and Shamir-Assaf Harofeh hospitals, including: a woman approximately 35 years old in moderate condition with limb injuries, and 21 others in light condition.

Secretary Bessent: President Trump has maximum negotiating leverage right here, right now. I think it would be a mistake to think otherwise. Many of our trading partners have not escalated, and they will get priority in the queue. I think it was a big mistake, this Chinese escalation.

U.S. stocks soared Tuesday morning after days of steep losses, driven by optimism that global leaders were scrambling to strike trade deals with President Trump to ease the impact of his sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,238 points, or 3.2%, clawing back some of the ground it lost after plunging more than 3,500 points since last Wednesday. The dramatic slide came amid investor fears surrounding Trump’s newly-imposed “Liberation Day” tariffs, which many economists have warned could reignite inflation and potentially usher in a recession.

Markets rebounded across the board, with the S&P 500 climbing 3.3% and the Nasdaq 100 up 3.6%. Investor sentiment was buoyed by reports that several countries had entered discussions with the U.S. and might be willing to make trade concessions.

The dramatic market swings followed Trump’s announcement of his most far-reaching tariff package yet — including a flat 10% duty on all imported goods that went into effect over the weekend, and steeper rates aimed at certain nations set to begin Wednesday.

Economists voiced concerns that the tariffs could stoke inflation, as importers would likely pass increased costs onto American consumers.

JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs revised their economic forecasts, raising the likelihood of a recession to 60% and 45%, respectively, after markets posted their sharpest declines since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Markets were hammered on Monday after Trump signaled that the tariffs were here to stay for the foreseeable future. But on Tuesday, renewed hopes emerged that the levies might be reduced through diplomatic negotiations with trade partners.

In a post on Truth Social Monday afternoon, Trump said he had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier that day.

Later, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Trump had instructed him and the U.S. Trade Representative to “open negotiations” with Ishiba and his team. Bessent confirmed he would lead the talks with Japan, which is currently facing a 24% “Liberation Day” import tax.

“Japan remains among America’s closest allies, and I look forward to our upcoming productive engagement regarding tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, currency issues, and government subsidies,” Bessent said in a message posted to X.

Indonesia, also facing a steep 32% tariff beginning Wednesday, signaled a strong desire to negotiate. The country announced plans to send a senior delegation to Washington next week to work out a potential agreement and preemptively offered multiple concessions.

The Indonesian government said it would increase its purchases of American goods, including liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, and soybeans, according to chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto during a strategy meeting on the tariffs.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati added that Indonesia would reduce import duties on various U.S. goods such as steel, mining equipment, and medical supplies. She also noted planned tax reductions on electronics, mobile phones, and laptops from all countries.

She hinted that Indonesia is aiming to position itself as a viable alternative to Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, and China as a major supplier of exports to the U.S.

Meanwhile, Vietnam sweetened its offer after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro rejected its earlier proposal to eliminate tariffs as insufficient.

“When they [Vietnam] come to us and say ‘We’ll go to zero tariffs,’ that means nothing to us because it’s the non-tariff cheating that matters,” Navarro told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

Still, investors found a glimmer of optimism after Vietnam, facing a possible 46% tariff, pledged Monday evening to significantly increase its imports from the U.S., including defense-related products, in hopes of staving off the new duties.

Vietnam will “approach and negotiate with the US to reach a bilateral agreement, moving towards a sustainable trade balance,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a statement.

He added that Vietnam would “continue to buy more US products that are strong and Vietnam has demand for, including products related to security and defense; promote early delivery of aircraft trade contracts.”

The Vietnamese government has formally asked the Trump administration to postpone the new tariffs for at least 45 days.

{Matzav.com}

With most programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development cut and the agency’s remaining staff told their jobs will end by September, the reality of the Trump administration’s sudden halt to more than 60 years of international development work has sunk in. Billionaire presidential advisor Elon Musk, who led the charge to dismantle USAID, has called the agency criminal and corrupt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said many programs did not advance American interests. The administration continues to cancel programs, including humanitarian and food aid, and has said it will roll any remaining programs into the State Department. Two months into the cuts, some workers and organizations, who once carried out those programs, are developing a variety of initiatives to stand in the breach left by the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid. Direct cash to laid off workers Laura Meissner had worked as a contractor for USAID since 2010 and specialized in humanitarian assistance, specifically programs that give cash directly to people in need. In early February, a friend approached her to help start a fundraiser to benefit other USAID workers who, like her, had lost their jobs. USAID employed 10,550 people in Washington and at offices around the world, with about half coming from other countries. Meissner along with a small group of organizers eventually set up The Solidarity Fund with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which will actually make grants directly to former workers. The grants will start at $650 and increase depending on the size of the household. “We want to make it a meaningful enough sum that it’ll make a real difference in their ability to buy groceries, pay medical bills, pay the rent or mortgage, or keep the lights on,” Meissner said. So far, the fund has raised about $16,000 from 140 donors and has already recommend 10 applicants to receive funds. “It’s so easy to feel like nothing that you do matters because there’s so many big problems and it feels like they’re happening all at once. But everything does matter, even if it’s just to somebody,” she said. Research to help foundations and funders with more money Even for people who study international development, it’s been hard to understand all the ways U.S. cuts have impacted the field. The think tank Rethink Priorities, which prioritizes cost-effectiveness in charitable interventions, studied the gaps created by the cuts to help donors respond. They provide a chart showing how big of a share U.S. funding was in any given area and encourage funders to consider how urgently the impacts of the cuts will be felt. They also suggest donors consider if others might fill the gap. Tom Vargas, a senior researcher at the think tank, said he hopes the research helps to, “spread the money around in a way that makes sense. We’re funding things that other people will not fund.” They hope their research influences donors, big and small, while also recommending giving to emergency funds. Bridge funds to get money to programs that could still operate Within a month of the pause on USAID programs, a number of nonprofits started emergency funds to get money to life-saving programs or to stabilize organizations that would otherwise close. Even the World Food Program, the United Nations agency that responds to conflicts and famines, has started a fundraiser, hoping to bring in $25 million from U.S. donors. So far, emergency funds have raised between […]

For many older Bachurim, the path of learning becomes more challenging as the years pass. Too old for standard Yeshivas, yet not aligned with Kollel, they often feel caught between two worlds. 🎥  📖 Yeshivas Chaim Shel Torah, under the leadership of Reb Dovid Soloveitchik, has changed that reality! With over 50 Israeli bachurim ages 24+ shteiging in Reb Dovid’s Beis Midrash, a new era has begun for unmarried bachurim in Yerushalayim. No longer outsiders in younger Yeshivas or Kollelim full of married Yungeleit, these bachurim now have their own place to grow, learn, and thrive—supported by friends who understand their journey. Do you know someone still awaiting their Zivug? This Pesach, Split the Sea for a Single You Know Give a single you care about a powerful Zechus by sponsoring an older Bachur in learning. Your support will uplift them both on their journey. ➡ Show your support here ✨ Double the zechus! According to Harav Ahron Kotler zt”l, Hallel of Leil HaSeder is an auspicious time for shidduchim. Submit a name (at no extra costs) for a single you care about and have our bachurim daven for them this Leil Haseder. 🔗 Show your support and submit a name here* *names can be submitted until April 10th | י’’ב ניסן

During an interview on MSNBC’s “Inside” Monday, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) stated that Congress has the legal authority to intervene and halt what she described as President Donald Trump’s “tariff catastrophe.”

Host Jen Psaki asked, “Tell me if I’m correct here, that Congress already has the authority to stop him. So what does that mean and what could happen in order to stop this?”

Warren responded, “We’ll do a little constitutional law. It’s Congress that actually has to approve tariffs. We gave this emergency power to Donald Trump but Congress has the power under just a resolution simple majority to say it’s not an emergency fellow. And that takes away his power to put all of these tariffs in place. Last Wednesday, we advanced in the United States senate this motion to say, hey, we’re not in an emergency situation with Canada. and four Republicans, right then crossed over, voted with the Democrats and it passed. And the importance of this just to be wonky for a minute.”

Psaki interjected with enthusiasm, “We love wonky.”

Continuing her explanation, Warren said, “It’s a privileged motion, which means it has to be brought to the Floor to be voted on. So right now we’ve got every Democrat lined up saying we are ready to declare we are not in an emergency. We are not at war with France, with Canada, with Italy, can we just go through the whole list with Japan, with South Korea, we are not. And if a handful of Republicans will join us, we have the power to put a stop to this tariff catastrophe that Donald Trump is putting in place and pulling our economy into a ditch.”

WATCH:

Statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu following their White House meeting on Monday revealed that Netanyahu’s rapid trip to Washington was driven by the initiation of talks with Iran — not by concerns over trade tariffs, as had been speculated.

Trump had summoned Netanyahu for a private discussion about the developing diplomatic channel with Iran. His intent was to give Israel a heads-up and minimize the risk of interference or preemptive military action by Israel that could derail the talks.

Netanyahu’s attempt to address the issue of tariffs during his visit met with disappointment. Having traveled straight from a diplomatic stop in Hungary, he returned to Israel without any concessions on the matter. The tariffs will remain unchanged.

The announcement of direct talks between the U.S. and Iran likely came as a blow to Netanyahu. While Tehran publicly maintains that it does not trust Trump and refuses to talk with Washington directly, it seems the president’s warnings prompted them to reconsider.

Netanyahu was more receptive to Trump’s comments that any failure in the negotiations would spell trouble for Iran. The president’s remarks hinted at military consequences — a sharp departure from the more restrained approach of previous administrations — and Netanyahu appeared to approve.

Still, the Israeli leader left with little to show for his efforts. The tariff issue was unresolved, and Trump even brought up the $4 billion in annual military assistance Israel receives. However, he did applaud Netanyahu for easing restrictions on U.S. imports to Israel, suggesting that other nations should follow suit. The only concrete outcome was a vague pledge to continue discussing tariffs.

The summit also yielded no breakthroughs regarding the hostages being held in Gaza. While Trump condemned the brutal treatment the captives have endured at the hands of Hamas, he did not propose any actionable steps toward securing their freedom.

Trump once again floated the idea of relocating some of Gaza’s residents. According to the report, Netanyahu told the president there are countries that would accept Palestinians who opt to leave. Trump also expressed bewilderment at Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza, saying he didn’t understand why Israel had given up what he described as an “incredible piece of real estate.” He speculated that it might have been for peace, but added, “we all saw how that worked out.”

As for Turkey’s expanding role in Syria, Trump remarked positively about President Erdogan and offered to assist if Israel encountered difficulties with the Turkish leader. This indicated that Washington would be willing to step in to help prevent a clash between the two regional powers.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly 550 days after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has released a harrowing medical report that tears back the curtain on the nightmarish conditions faced by those still held captive in Gaza. Based on eyewitness testimonies, released hostage accounts, and Hamas propaganda footage, the report details a descent into darkness that survivors and families say is worsening by the day. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, including the body of a soldier held since 2014. Of those, only 24 are believed to be alive—surviving in a state of physical and psychological torment that pushes the limits of human endurance. “Time is running out, and every additional moment in captivity puts their lives in terrible danger,” the report says. The report paints a picture of hostages bound by their hands and feet, suspended upside down, burned, starved, and beaten. Many are kept underground for weeks or months at a time—chained, blindfolded, and stripped of daylight, fresh air, or any sense of time. Survivors of captivity describe total isolation. Some have had no contact with other Israelis or even knowledge of whether their loved ones are still alive. All are malnourished; many suffer from untreated infections, skin diseases, and injuries. Digestive issues—vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration—are rampant, a direct result of undrinkable water, filthy conditions, and total lack of medical care. At least eight hostages are suffering from visible injuries. Five have preexisting conditions like asthma and severe allergies—yet none have received treatment. One captive, Elkana Bohbot, who suffers from chronic respiratory disease, is believed to be at risk of death due to the lack of medication. Every one of the 24 believed living hostages is battling serious psychological disorders. The report cites widespread anxiety, depression, PTSD, and catatonia. Prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation, constant threats, and sensory deprivation are corroding their mental states. Ziv and Gali Berman, twin brothers taken on October 7, were split apart and are suffering from extreme psychological strain. Ziv, who sustained a head injury during IDF shelling early in the war, remains untreated. Nimrod Cohen, the lone survivor of a tank crew, has reportedly stopped speaking entirely, consumed by grief and depression. “Every additional day in captivity is a potential death sentence,” the Forum warned. “A preventable death.” Alon Ohel, abducted from the Nova music festival, is chained, starving, and at risk of total blindness. Matan Angrest, dragged from a burning IDF tank, has facial injuries possibly indicating neurological damage. Guy Gilboa-Dalal, once healthy, now appears emaciated and dehydrated to the point of losing his ability to speak. Rom Braslavski, who suffers from severe allergies and scoliosis, was taken without his glasses. No word has come from him in over a year. Many captives were young civilians, but Hamas treats nearly all male hostages as soldiers due to their age. This has resulted in particularly brutal treatment, especially for those suspected of military service. Of the 24 living hostages, Israel has received proof of life from 20 since the war began. But information on their current health is dangerously scarce. The Forum says concern is growing “by the hour” for the remaining four. “The information collected paints a very worrying picture,” the Forum said. “The hostages are being held in inhumane conditions, suffering severe physical and mental abuse, and […]

The Houthi’a intelligence chief may have been killed in a series of U.S. airstrikes overnight, according to a report from the Saudi-based news outlet al-Hadath. The report claims Abdul Nasser Al-Kamali, the Iran-backed rebel group’s intelligence chief, was killed in the capital city of Sa’ana, which remains under Houthi control. The alleged strike was part of a wider wave of American air assaults targeting Houthi positions in and around the capital and the neighboring Mar’ib province. A Houthi spokesperson, posting on Telegram, said U.S. warplanes carried out eleven strikes in Sa’ana and surrounding areas, along with nine more in Mar’ib, an inland region where the group maintains a strong presence. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not issued a statement regarding the operation or the reported death of Al-Kamali. The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped since launching its renewed campaign against the Houthis on March 15. However, speaking at the White House Monday during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made clear that Washington’s military pressure on the Houthis is only intensifying. “We are not going to relent, and it’s only going to be more unrelenting until the Houthis declare they will stop shooting at our ships,” Hegseth said, in reference to the rebel group’s repeated attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

At a summit held in Cairo on Monday, leaders from France, Egypt, and Jordan delivered a shared message urging that the Palestinian Authority be placed in charge of governing Gaza after the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas concludes, according to AFP.

In a joint declaration, they stated, “Governance, law and order, and security in Gaza, as well as in all Palestinian territories, must be the sole responsibility of a strengthened Palestinian Authority.”

While appearing with President Sisi in Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced strong support for a regional plan to rebuild Gaza and insisted that the local population should not be forcibly displaced. He referred to an Arab League initiative as a starting point for creating new leadership for the Palestinians in the area.

“Our government has done crucial work on this plan, which offers a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and should also pave the way for new Palestinian governance,” Macron said.

He made it clear that there is no place for Hamas in the future leadership of Gaza, declaring, “Hamas must have no role in this governance (of Gaza), and must no longer constitute a threat to Israel.”

Although Hamas has suggested it might be willing to let independent experts handle civil matters in Gaza, the group has not consented to give up arms or step aside entirely.

The meeting also featured a collective demand to reinstate a ceasefire in Gaza. A previous truce, arranged in January by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, fell apart after Hamas declined to release additional hostages or approve a proposal presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

Macron’s participation in the summit emphasized France’s support for Egypt and Jordan, both of which have rejected a plan floated by U.S. President Donald Trump that involved the United States managing Gaza post-war and relocating its residents to nearby countries.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stressed that real peace cannot come without fulfilling the Palestinian Arab demand for self-determination. “There will not be lasting peace and permanent stability in the Middle East without a just solution,” he said.

King Abdullah of Jordan reinforced the call for peace through mutual recognition, pushing for a two-state outcome. He urged the pursuit of “a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution,” and voiced support for a Palestinian state existing beside Israel.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Monday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran and the United States would engage in indirect negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities, contradicting President Donald Trump’s assertion that the talks would be face-to-face.

Posting on the social platform X, Araqchi announced, “Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks.”

He also commented, “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test” and emphasized, “The ball is in America’s court.”

Earlier that same day, while standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the White House, President Trump had given a different account: “We are having direct talks with Iran. On Saturday we will have a very big meeting and we will see what can happen. I think everybody agrees that a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that anyone here wants to be involved with.”

Trump warned that the matter was entering a volatile phase, saying it’s “getting to be very dangerous territory. Hopefully, those talks will be successful, and I think it would be in Iran’s best interests if they are.”

When questioned by a journalist about the possibility of military action against Iran, Trump replied, “I think if the talks are not successful with Iran, Iran is going to be in great danger. If the talks are not successful, I actually think that will be a very bad day for Iran,” Trump said.

Later that day, three Iranian officials familiar with preparations for the discussions told The New York Times that their understanding differed from what President Trump had described during his White House remarks.

According to these Iranian sources, the meetings set for Saturday in Oman would be indirect, with Iranian and American envoys stationed in separate rooms while Omani intermediaries relayed messages between them.

The officials also told The New York Times that Tehran might be willing to consider face-to-face discussions with Washington if the initial indirect engagement proved fruitful.

Not long ago, Iran had declined a proposal for direct negotiations from Trump. That proposal had been conveyed in a letter sent to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

After the rejection, Trump issued a stern warning, saying that “bad things” would befall Iran if it refused to reach a nuclear agreement.

He later escalated his rhetoric, cautioning that “if they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

In response, Ayatollah Khamenei declared that any aggression from the U.S. would be met with a “strong blow.”

Just three days afterward, Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said he was confident that Iran wanted direct talks with the United States about its nuclear program.

{Matzav.com}