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Though the IDF continues to make strides in its battle against Hamas across multiple areas, military officials admitted to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that fully dismantling the terror group could take a year—or possibly several.

The conversation began with mention of the IDF’s recent achievement in eliminating 300 Hamas operatives, and a cumulative total of between 18,000 and 20,000 killed before the January 19 ceasefire. However, those numbers must be considered alongside estimates that Hamas still has over 25,000 fighters, and that the IDF’s current main effort is centered on clearing out the group’s remaining forces in Rafah.

In essence, although the IDF has wiped out a significant portion of Hamas’s fighters and few remain from the estimated 4,000 to 8,000 that were originally based in Rafah, the largest remaining concentrations consist of only several hundred. Going up against a network that might still have 25,000 members scattered across Gaza makes the goal of total elimination a daunting and time-intensive task.

While there are hopes among some in Israel that Hamas might collapse soon and that its leadership might agree to go into exile, if that does not occur—and if no permanent ceasefire is brokered involving moderate Sunni allies to reconstruct Gaza—then the conflict risks dragging into a prolonged, grinding campaign.

Some military leaders accept this possibility and predict that the war effort could extend over several years, involving the meticulous unearthing and destruction of isolated terror cells that have taken refuge in civilian sites like schools.

Elements of the IDF’s recent briefings about its gains in Rafah have also raised eyebrows.

During Jerusalem Post visits to Rafah in June, August, and September 2024, and based on multiple briefings and official statements at the time, it was asserted that Hamas’s Rafah-based units had been decisively beaten.

Officials were particularly confident that forces stationed in the Shaboura sector had been entirely dismantled.

Yet IDF representatives now reveal that key Hamas battalions remained embedded in Shaboura, contradicting the earlier narrative. They explained this by noting that the IDF had not yet conducted a full-scale incursion into that area.

Pressed on this inconsistency, IDF spokespeople suggested that prior comments may have referred solely to the Shaboura refugee camp—a smaller subsection—while the broader Shaboura zone had not been fully penetrated.

This kind of caveat was missing from previous statements by the IDF and other senior officials. The more recent clarifications, however, may offer a more honest and precise account, implying that the earlier descriptions of victory were overstated.

Another noticeable shift has been the tone adopted by current IDF commanders.

Whereas under former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, some IDF figures occasionally expressed views diverging from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s positions, the military leadership now appears more aligned with the political leadership’s messaging.

Previously, officials under Halevi and Gallant acknowledged that applying military pressure might help secure the release of hostages, but they also warned that such pressure could backfire—potentially endangering hostages if they were mistakenly targeted during an assault on what was believed to be a safe zone.

At present, there appears to be near-unanimity among IDF officials that increasing military pressure will yield only positive results in terms of rescuing captives.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, strongly emphasized the necessity of retaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor.

Katz revealed that newly discovered smuggling tunnels running between Gaza and Egypt had come to light, warning that without an IDF presence in the corridor, Hamas could initiate a large-scale effort to restock its weapons.

This statement marks a stark contrast to what top IDF officials said during a September 2024 tour of the corridor. At that time, they claimed there were no more than ten tunnels, all of which had been sealed. They also asserted that Hamas had not been using them to bring in fresh weapons during the war, but only for moving existing munitions within Gaza.

Instead, senior officers stated that most of Hamas’s arsenal had been brought into the Strip long ago, primarily through the Rafah crossing when Egypt’s inspections were lax and failed to prevent smuggling above ground.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Prada Group announced a deal Thursday to buy Italy’s Versace from the U.S. luxury group Capri Holdings under terms that value the fashion house at 1.25 billion euros ($1.4 billion). Prada said the addition of Versace’s “highly recognizable aesthetic … constitutes a strongly complementary addition” to its portfolio, which includes the Prada and Miu Miu fashion brands. It said Milan-based Versace offered “significant untapped growth potential.’’ The final value of the deal will be adjusted at closing, expected in the second half of the year. It will be funded by 1.5 billion euros in new debt and has been approved by the Prada and Capri Holdings board of directors. “Versace will maintain its creative DNA and cultural authenticity, while benefitting from the full strength of the Group’s considerable consolidated platform, including industrial capabilities, retail execution and operational expertise,’’ Prada said in a statement. Versace, founded in 1978 by the late Gianni Versace, has been owned since 2018 by Capri Holdings, which includes Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. Capri Holdings paid $2 billion for Versace, but had been struggling in the recent era of “quiet luxury’’ to position the stalwart of Italian fashion with its sexy silhouettes and loud patterns. Last month, Capri Holdings named Dario Vitale as creative director to replace Donatella Versace, who assumed the role after her brother’s 1997 murder. Vitale came from Miu Miu, the stunningly successful youth-driven brand in the Prada Group. Versace was given the new role of chief brand ambassador in the shakeup, which was widely viewed as setting the scene for the long-rumored Prada sale. Miuccia Prada acknowledged the group’s interest on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week in February. (ap)

New Jersey’s Democrat governor has instructed law enforcement across the state to cease cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The directive was issued jointly by Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin and aligns with the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive, Shore News Network reported.

Murphy’s decision came shortly after the Trump administration added 27,000 “Outstanding Administrative Warrants for Removal from the United States” to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in line with the former president’s immigration enforcement agenda.

“These Administrative Warrant messages appear in NCIC in a method that ALL members are to note they are NOT to be broadcast as ‘NCIC Hits,’” wrote Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police in a department-wide internal memo. “NJDSP members are NOT permitted to contact ICE via the phone numbers provided.”

However, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, pushed back, voicing her disapproval on X and issuing a stern reminder to state officials. “Let me be clear: Executive Orders will be followed and enforced in the State of New Jersey.”

Callahan’s directive reinforces the stipulations of New Jersey’s 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which restricts state police from assisting federal immigration enforcement bodies.

He further clarified that even when officers encounter individuals flagged on the list during routine policing, they are still barred from alerting ICE, as compliance with NCIC warrants in these situations violates state policy.

Callahan wrote in the memo: “A sample of how these Administrative Warrant messages appear in NCIC is attached. ALL members must be aware they are NOT to be broadcast as ‘NCIC Hits,’ which would lead our members to believe they are required to arrest the subject. As the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive outlines, we are NOT to arrest subjects on the ‘Outstanding Administrative Warrant’ entries, even if no other entries are provided. Also, upon receiving notification of an ‘Outstanding Administrative Warrant,’ NJSP members are NOT permitted to contact ICE via the phone numbers provided.”

He added: “Members of PSTS must pay particular attention to the wording of ‘Outstanding Administrative Warrant’ in the NCIC message so they adhere to the Attorney General’s Directive 2018-6.”

The memo concluded with a final warning: “Taking law enforcement action by arresting a subject based solely on an ‘Outstanding Administrative Warrant’ would violate the Attorney General’s Immigration Trust Directive referenced above.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Washington on Wednesday.

According to State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, they discussed diplomatic efforts in Gaza aimed at releasing hostages and establishing a durable ceasefire, emphasizing the necessity for Hamas to be completely disarmed and disempowered. ​

Rubio expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to facilitate peace between Russia and Ukraine, enhance economic and defense cooperation, eliminate the Houthi threat to the region and restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. ​

Both officials agreed on the importance of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces returning to peace talks, protecting civilians, opening humanitarian corridors and returning to civilian governance. ​

They also reaffirmed the significance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship and committed to exploring ways to further strengthen their partnership. JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump intensified his efforts to punish his critics by signing a pair of memoranda directing the Justice Department to investigate two officials from his first administration and stripping them of any security clearances they may have. Trump’s targeting of Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official in Trump’s first term, and Chris Krebs, a former top cybersecurity official, came as the Republican president has sought to use the powers of the presidency to retaliate against his adversaries, including law firms. Trump also on Wednesday retaliated against another law firm, Susman Godfrey, as he seeks to punish firms that have links to prosecutors who have investigated him or employed attorneys he sees as opponents. Although Trump has ordered security clearances to be stripped from a number of his opponents, including former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, the president’s order Wednesday directing the Justice Department to broadly investigate the actions of Taylor and Krebs marks an escalation of Trump’s campaign of retribution since he returned to power. Taylor, who left the Trump administration in 2019, was later revealed to be the author of an anonymous New York Times op-ed in 2018 that was sharply critical of Trump. The person writing the essay described themselves as part of a secret “resistance” to counter Trump’s “misguided impulses,” and its publication touched off a leak investigation in Trump’s first White House. Taylor later published a book under the pen name “Anonymous” and publicly revealed his identity days before the 2020 election. Trump said Wednesday that Taylor was “like a traitor” and that his writings about “confidential” meetings were “like spying.” “I think he’s guilty of treason,” he said. Taylor responded by saying Trump had proved his point. “Dissent isn’t unlawful. It certainly isn’t treasonous. America is headed down a dark path,” he wrote on X. Trump named Krebs the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency but became angered with him after he declared the 2020 election that Trump lost to be secure and the ballot counts to be accurate. Krebs did not respond to a message seeking comment, but late Wednesday he shared on X a message he originally posted when he left government in 2020: “Honored to serve. We did it right.” Trump has falsely claimed he was cheated out of reelection in 2020 by widespread fraud, despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Recounts, reviews and audits in the battleground states where he disputed his loss all affirmed Biden’s victory. Judges, including some he appointed, rejected dozens of his legal challenges. “It’s bizarre to see a president investigate his own administration and his own appointee,” said David Becker, a former Justice Department lawyer and coauthor of “The Big Truth,” a book about Trump’s 2020 election lies. Becker noted that Krebs issued his reassurances about the security of the upcoming election for months during 2020 without pushback from the then-president, with Trump only souring on him after the votes were counted. “The reason he can sit in the White House today and govern from that position is because our election system is secure and has accurately determined who has won the presidency,” Becker said. Susman Godfrey, the firm Trump targeted in an order Wednesday, represented Dominion Voting Systems in a lawsuit that accused […]

The Israel Defense Forces is finalizing plans to evacuate Rafah city and establish a strategic buffer zone along Gaza’s southern border, in what Israeli officials describe as a critical step in the dismantling of Hamas’s military presence in the area.

The plan centers on the construction of the Morag Corridor—a new security strip extending from the Mediterranean coast in the west through the former settlement of Morag, and connecting to the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border, according to Hebrew media reports. The corridor is expected to stretch up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) into Gaza, effectively encircling Rafah.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz stated earlier this week, “Rafah will be evacuated. This area will become a buffer zone to eliminate Hamas’s ability to regroup or smuggle weapons through the southern border.”

The corridor’s establishment comes amid increasing IDF activity in southern Gaza, with updated evacuation maps showing expanded clearance zones near the border. Israeli officials emphasize that this buffer is necessary to prevent the reconstitution of Hamas forces and the use of smuggling tunnels that run between Gaza and Egypt.

“This operation is not only tactical but strategic. Control of Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor will close off Hamas’s last remaining external supply routes,” said an IDF source cited by Ynet.

While the IDF has yet to officially launch a full ground operation in Rafah, preparations are underway, and officials have reiterated that the offensive will move forward once civilian evacuation is complete. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

A flood of Chinese investment—totaling a staggering $1.9 trillion—is rapidly transforming global manufacturing, posing a serious threat to industries across the world, especially in the United States, the NY Post reports.

The Chinese government has funneled enormous sums into boosting factory output over the last four years, launching a massive expansion effort aimed at saturating international markets with low-cost products.

In response, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a sweeping 125% tariff on all Chinese goods entering the U.S.—while suspending similar duties on most other nations—marking his latest move to shield American industries from the impact of China’s aggressive export strategy.

Governments around the world are taking similar steps. In recent months, countries like the European Union, Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand have either introduced new trade barriers or are actively considering tariffs to guard against a surge of Chinese goods flooding their markets.

“The tsunami is coming for everyone,” said Katherine Tai, trade representative for former President Joe Biden, told The New York Times.

In a strategic pivot, China has redirected financial resources previously allocated to housing development toward expanding its industrial base. State-run banks have extended nearly $2 trillion in additional loans to manufacturers since 2020, according to new figures obtained by The New York Times from China’s central bank.

Factories are popping up across the country at a breakneck pace, while existing plants are being upgraded with advanced machinery to churn out massive quantities of everything from consumer electronics to automobiles and agricultural chemicals—primed for export.

Among China’s most ambitious projects is the construction of two enormous auto manufacturing plants by carmaker BYD, each of which is on track to surpass the size of the Volkswagen facility in Wolfsburg, Germany—the largest car factory in the world.

China’s exports surged by double digits in the past two years, with a 13% increase in 2023 followed by 17% growth in 2024. Exports now make up about one-fifth of China’s entire economy.

By contrast, the U.S. has seen its export figures shrink. Once at record highs a decade ago, American exports now represent just 11% of the GDP, down from 13.6% in 2012.

Trade with China has been especially hard-hit. U.S. exports to the country dropped nearly 3% last year, falling to $144 billion, according to data from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. At the same time, the trade deficit with China ballooned to $295 billion.

Despite some previous declines, Chinese imports into the U.S. bounced back last year, climbing almost 3% to reach nearly $440 billion.

Faced with China’s growing dominance in manufacturing, nations are racing to fortify their own markets. Brazil enacted higher tariffs on metal and fiber optic products from China in 2023. The EU slapped Chinese electric vehicles with tariffs exceeding 45% to help safeguard European carmakers.

Mexico has considered aligning its trade policies with U.S. measures by adopting matching tariffs, while Thailand is exploring changes to its free trade agreements that would introduce a 7% tax on inexpensive Chinese imports.

Trump’s dramatic new tariff is aimed at creating a strong protective barrier around U.S. industries in anticipation of the economic pressure heading America’s way.

In some sectors, steep tariffs have already proven effective—particularly on Chinese electric vehicles, which might otherwise have overwhelmed American automakers.

However, for some global competitors, China’s momentum has already had devastating effects. According to ASEAN Briefing, Chinese imports caused manufacturing output in Thailand to plummet by half last year.

{Matzav.com}

The Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained men and their barbers over hairstyles and others for missing prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, a U.N. report said Thursday, six months after laws regulating people’s conduct came into effect. The Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws last August covering many aspects everyday life in Afghanistan, including public transport, music, shaving and celebrations. Most notably, the ministry issued a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public. That same month, a top U.N. official warned the laws provided a “distressing vision” for the country’s future by adding to existing employment, education, and dress code restrictions on women and girls. Taliban officials have rejected U.N. concerns about the morality laws. Thursday’s report, from the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, said in the first 6 months of the laws’ implementation, over half of detentions made under it concerned “either men not having the compliant beard length or hairstyle, or barbers providing non-compliant beard trimming or haircuts.” The report said that the morality police regularly detained people arbitrarily “without due process and legal protections.” During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, men’s attendance at mandated congregational prayers was closely monitored, leading at times to arbitrary detention of those who didn’t show up, the report added. The U.N. mission said that both sexes were negatively affected, particularly people with small businesses such as private education centers, barbers and hairdressers, tailors, wedding caterers and restaurants, leading to a reduction or total loss of income and employment opportunities. The direct and indirect socio-economic effects of the laws’ implementation were likely to compound Afghanistan’s dire economic situation, it said. A World Bank study has assessed that authorities’ ban on women from education and work could cost the country over $1.4 billion per year. But the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has emphasized the primacy of Islamic law and the role of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue in reforming Afghan society and its people. In a message issued ahead of the religious Eid Al-Fitr festival that marks the end of Ramadan, Akhundzada said it was necessary “to establish a society free from corruption and trials, and to prevent future generations from becoming victims of misguided beliefs, harmful practices and bad morals.” More than 3,300 mostly male inspectors are tasked with informing people about the law and enforcing it, according to the report. The ministry has resolved thousands of people’s complaints and defended the rights of Afghan women, according to its spokesman Saif ur Rahman Khyber. This was in addition to “implementing divine decrees in the fields of promoting virtue, preventing vice, establishing affirmations, preventing bad deeds, and eliminating bad customs.” The ministry was committed to all Islamic and human rights and had proven this in practice, he said Thursday, rejecting attempts to “sabotage or spread rumors” about its activities. (AP)

Immigration rights groups have launched a legal challenge to stop former President Donald Trump from deporting Venezuelans suspected of gang involvement by relying on a rarely used wartime law.

The Trump team turned to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an old statute originally created for national security in wartime, to remove undocumented individuals — particularly those it links to criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

The Supreme Court upheld the administration’s ability to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport undocumented Venezuelans accused of gang ties. However, the justices made clear that before any deportations proceed, those targeted must be granted a chance to legally contest the action under the provisions of the Act.

A spokesperson for Trump’s Justice Department emphasized, “The department has vigorously defended President Trump’s policies and will continue to do so whenever challenged in federal court by rogue judges who think they can control the President’s foreign policy and national security agenda. The Supreme Court’s recent decisions have validated the DOJ’s ongoing arguments to this end in court.”

Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union pushed back, saying, “Contrary to the administration’s wishful characterization, the Supreme Court emphatically rejected the government’s position that they could whisk people away without giving them an opportunity to challenge their removal to a foreign prison.”

Gelernt continued, “The Court simply issued a technical ruling that the challenges should be by habeas corpus, but in no way remotely suggested the Trump administration would win these challenges.”

In response, the ACLU and allied groups have filed additional motions aiming to prevent the federal government from invoking the Alien Enemies Act at all.

Should that legal maneuver not succeed, the organizations point out that the Supreme Court’s decision still mandates that detainees be officially informed they’re being classified as “enemies” under the law — and be given the opportunity to fight that label in court. The Court did not address whether Trump’s use of the act was legally sound.

This could force immigration officials to present their rationale for designating certain individuals as gang-affiliated and eligible for expedited deportation. Until now, the administration has declined to provide names or evidence, though it claims some of those deported committed serious offenses.

According to one analyst from the Migration Policy Institute, the ruling ensures that due process protections must be extended to these individuals.

“ICE’s position so far has been, ‘We decide that these people are aliens, and we can just remove them. We get to decide who is an enemy and who is not,’ and that, I think, has been set aside by the Supreme Court. That’s the good part. The bad part is that, to use the due process that the Supreme Court said they’re entitled to, is now a much more tedious and difficult hurdle to cross,” said Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the institute.

{Matzav.com}

Over the past few weeks, as Jewish families prepared for Passover amid soaring food prices, Met Councilled a massive food relief effort to ensure that more than 250,000 food-insecure Jewish Americans could celebrate the holiday with dignity. With grocery costs skyrocketing—some items increasing by 40% since last year and over 200% from pre-pandemic prices—Met Council distributed millions of pounds of free kosher-for-Passover food across 185 distribution sites in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. Working in partnership with local food pantries, synagogues, and community organizations, Met Council’s coordinated efforts helped struggling families access the essential foods needed for a proper Seder. This year’s distribution was supported by major partners, including Deb El Food Products, which donated millions of eggs—one of the most expensive and hardest-to-find holiday staples—providing crucial relief to families hit hardest by inflation. A Special thanks to UJA-Federation of NY for supporting this Passover food distribution effort. Met Council’s Passover food packages included traditional holiday essentials such as matzah, kosher-for-Passover chicken, gefilte fish, tuna, and grape juice, along with pantry staples like apple sauce, biscotti, borscht, cake mix, chopped walnuts, cocoa powder, jam, lemon juice, macaroons, matzah meal, potato starch, sugar, tomato sauce, and vinegar. Families also received fresh fruits and vegetables, including mandarin oranges, peaches, pickles, and potatoes, ensuring they had everything necessary for a meaningful holiday celebration. More than 30 elected officials joined Met Council’s efforts over the past few weeks, emphasizing the urgent need for food assistance as inflation continues to squeeze household budgets. Events were held across all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida, making it easier than ever for families to receive high-quality kosher food in a dignified and respectful manner. “This Passover, families across our community face unprecedented financial strain due to skyrocketing food costs, but Met Council is there to ensure that no one has to choose between paying for rent, medicine, or putting food on the table,” said Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield. “Thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors, we provide vital food relief to more than a quarter of a million Jewish Americans during the most expensive time of year for Jewish families.” Hannah Lupien, managing director of food programs at Met Council, highlighted the impact of this year’s campaign: “We work around the clock to get food into the hands of those who needed it most, and we are incredibly grateful to Deb El Food Products and all of our partners for making this historic effort possible.” As inflation and economic uncertainty affect families year-round, Met Council remains committed to fighting food insecurity and expanding its efforts beyond Passover. By leveraging partnerships with government agencies, corporate sponsors, and community organizations, Met Council continues to serve as the leading force in providing emergency food assistance to Jewish families in need. For more information or to support Met Council’s ongoing efforts, visit passover.metcouncil.org. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Wednesday that his country has no intention of building a nuclear weapon and even opened the door to potential U.S. economic involvement, should a nuclear agreement be reached.

His remarks came ahead of anticipated negotiations in Oman this past weekend concerning Iran’s controversial nuclear ambitions. The talks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office and his ongoing warnings that he would take military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear arms if needed.

“We are not after a nuclear bomb,” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran. “You [in the West] have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.”

Despite its denials, Iran — which has openly vowed to eliminate Israel — has significantly increased its uranium enrichment, reaching 60 percent purity, a level that has no civilian use and is widely seen as a step toward weapons-grade material. The regime has also restricted access to its nuclear sites by international inspectors.

Pezeshkian added that “his excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “American investors: Come and invest.”

This proposal marks a notable shift from Tehran’s previous posture following the 2015 nuclear accord, when Iran attempted to purchase U.S.-made aircraft but did not allow broader American commercial entry into its markets.

Such an offer could be appealing to President Trump, who pulled out of the 2015 agreement during his first administration and has made clear he is pursuing a new deal with Tehran.

Pezeshkian, elected last year on a promise to strengthen ties with Western countries, also said that the discussions scheduled for Saturday in Oman between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be “indirectly” conducted.

The upcoming negotiations were first disclosed by Trump on Monday. He has repeatedly said he’s willing to order strikes against Iran if it refuses to come to terms and has described the discussions as direct — a possibility Iran has not entirely dismissed following initial engagement.

Still, Iranian officials told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran is approaching the Oman talks with caution, expressing deep distrust of U.S. motives and minimal hope that the negotiations will lead to real progress.

{Matzav.com}

Slightly more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but the labor market remains broadly healthy despite an ongoing trade war. Jobless claim filings inched up by 4,000 to 223,000 for the week ending April 5, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s less than the 225,000 new applications analysts forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs, and have mostly ping-ponged between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years. Even though President Donald Trump put a 90-day pause on most of his widespread tariff hikes Wednesday, concerns remain about a global economic slowdown that could upend what has been an incredibly resilient labor market. Like his pledge to institute tariffs, Trump’s promise to drastically downsize the federal government workforce is fully in motion. It’s not clear when the job cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency — or “DOGE,” spearheaded by Elon Musk — will surface in the weekly layoffs data, Federal agencies that have either announced layoffs or are planning cuts include the Department of Health and Human Services, IRS, Small Business Administration, Veterans Affairs and Department of Education. Despite showing some signs of weakening during the past year, the labor market remains healthy with plentiful jobs and relatively few layoffs. Last week, the government reported that U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 228,000 jobs in March and while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%, that’s a healthy figure by historical standards. Some high-profile companies have announced job cuts already this year, including Workday, Dow, CNN, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines and Facebook parent company Meta. The four-week average of applications, which aims to smooth out some of the week-to-week swings, was unchanged at 223,000. The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of March 29 fell by 43,000 to 1.85 million. (AP)