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Hamas to Return Body of Israeli Hostage to Israel Tonight
Hamas announced on Monday that it plans to transfer the body of an Israeli hostage it murdered back to Israel later in the evening. The handover is scheduled for 9:00 p.m., according to the terror group’s statement.
Israeli authorities are preparing to receive the remains once the casket arrives. Teams will be on site to perform identification procedures and confirm the hostage’s identity following the return.
{Matzav.com}
Matzav Inbox: A Vote for Mamdani is a Vote for Socialism—A Moment to Reflect and Daven
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“6-Month-Old Baby’s Treatment Stopped – Can We Help Restart It?”
Hamas Shadow Unit Reportedly Assists Red Cross, Egyptian Teams in Gaza Hostage Search
REVEALED: How Self-Hating Jew George Soros And Radical Anti-Israel Activist Linda Sarsour Helped Zohran Mamdani’s Ascendancy
GET READY: Zohran Mamdani Insists NYPD Commish Jessica Tisch Will ‘Follow My Lead’ On Criminal-Justice Reform: ‘I’ll Be The Mayor’
Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is brushing aside doubts about whether NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch would align herself with his sweeping criminal-justice overhaul, declaring that as mayor, “everyone will follow” his direction.
During an appearance on the Hell Gate podcast, the 34-year-old left-wing lawmaker was pressed by host Christopher Robbins about his promise to retain Tisch, despite her history of resisting the kind of reforms Mamdani and his Democratic Socialist supporters have long championed. Robbins noted, “Lots of people who support your candidacy care about criminal-justice reform and reforming the NYPD, and for the past year, she has stood to thwart that.” He asked why Mamdani would keep her on board if elected.
Mamdani pushed back, arguing that Tisch had already demonstrated progress toward some of his goals, pointing to her involvement in preliminary discussions about a new Department of Public Safety — one of his central campaign proposals.
Even so, skepticism lingered. Robbins reminded Mamdani that Tisch has been outspoken in opposing major reform measures, including those passed under ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom she recently blamed for a surge in crime following his criminal-justice changes.
Tisch has also maintained strong support for the city’s contentious gang database, backed crackdowns on so-called minor offenses, and resisted bail and judicial-discovery reforms — stances that seem far removed from Mamdani’s vision of policing. “So she’s going to reverse her position on all those things?” Robbins asked pointedly. “She’s going to follow your lead in City Hall?”
“I think everyone will follow my lead,” Mamdani responded confidently. “I’ll be the mayor.”
The candidate dismissed fears of a repeat of the tense dynamic between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-Commissioner Bill Bratton, whose disagreements over policing philosophies ended in Bratton’s resignation. Mamdani said his relationship with Tisch would be one of unity and cooperation rather than conflict.
Still, Mamdani conceded that he has not yet spoken to Tisch directly about whether she would remain in her post under his administration. “I haven’t had a private conversation with her on that,” he acknowledged in an interview with CNN on Sunday, noting that the two have not spoken one-on-one since July.
For her part, Tisch has stayed silent throughout the mayoral campaign, avoiding public remarks about any candidate.
{Matzav.com}
Trump Praises Elon Musk, Calls Recent Misstep “Stupid Moment”
MAGA 2028! Trump Rules Out Running as Vance’s VP in 2028, But Suggests He Will Run For A Third Term
Watch: Chumash Shiur by Reb Sruly Bornstein – Parshas Lech Lecha (2) – Pesukim 12:10 – 13:18
WATCH:
From Church to Yeshiva: Ancient Aron Kodesh Restored to Glory
As the winter zeman begins, Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel has unveiled a remarkable restoration: the yeshiva’s centuries-old Aron Kodesh, originally crafted in Italy more than 200 years ago, has been meticulously refurbished and magnificently refinished.
The Aron Kodesh, estimated to be around 250 years old, was built in Galicia by a Jewish artisan named Cohen. Just before the outbreak of World War II, it was transferred to the United States, where it served a Jewish congregation that later became Reform. Eventually, the Aron found its way into a local church, until, years later, the priest of the church discarded it.
At that very moment, a Jewish woman happened to see the discarded Aron and rescued it from the trash. She safeguarded the dismantled structure for decades, preserving each piece with care. About ten years ago, the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi zt”l, had the Aron brought to Eretz Yisroel. Skilled craftsmen from the Israel Museum dedicated half a year to restoring it, reviving its splendor before it was installed in the yeshiva’s bais medrash in Bayit Vegan.
When the yeshiva relocated to Modiin Illit about seven years ago, the antique Aron was moved as well. Now, for the winter zeman, the Aron Kodesh has once again undergone a careful renovation, preserving its historical charm while renewing its beauty for the next generation of bnei Torah.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Police Seize Weapons, Arrest Two in Ramla, Lod, and Kafr Qasim
Zohran Mamdani’s DSA Supports Release of DC Terrorist
Israeli Man Arrested in Hong Kong for Massive Drug Smuggling Operation
An Israeli citizen has been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling operation worth an estimated 90 million Hong Kong dollars — roughly $11.5 million USD, or about 38 million shekels.
According to reports from Hong Kong and Ynet, the 45-year-old suspect was apprehended by the Hong Kong Police Narcotics Bureau in the Hung Hom area of Kowloon, part of the city’s Special Administrative Region.
Police said the man, who entered Hong Kong in mid-October on a tourist visa, drew the attention of officers after behaving suspiciously outside an industrial building. A search of a nearby storage facility uncovered eight large cardboard boxes containing a substantial quantity of illegal drugs.
Authorities placed the man under arrest, and he is currently being held in custody. He is expected to appear before the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors are set to file two counts of “trafficking in dangerous drugs.”
Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, a conviction for drug trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to 5 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 2.1 million shekels).
{Matzav.com}
Hamas Announces: We Can Retrieve 7-9 Hostages’ Bodies
The Hamas terror organization has reportedly told international mediators that it can recover the remains of seven to nine hostages buried beneath Gaza’s rubble, according to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat.
Israeli intelligence has assessed that Hamas knows exactly where at least eight deceased hostages are located and could easily retrieve them. However, there may be challenges in locating as many as five others whose bodies are believed to be trapped under collapsed structures.
The statement from Hamas came after President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the group, demanding swift action. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action,” Trump said, setting a 48-hour deadline.
He added, “Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not.” Trump made clear that patience was running thin, emphasizing that Hamas would be judged by its response. “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”
Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told Al Jazeera that the group had “told the mediators months ago that there are problems in searching for them because Israel has changed the landscape in the Gaza Strip, even in areas where the dead were buried. In some cases, it is no longer known where they were buried. There is American understanding of this issue, and we have made it clear.”
He claimed Hamas was conducting intensive efforts to find the bodies. “Over the past week and the week before, after the release of the live hostages, there has been intensive and unusual work. Israel is monitoring these efforts,” he said.
Al-Hayya accused Israel of exploiting the situation for political purposes, asserting that the controversy over the bodies was being used as “a pretext.” “The problem today is not a real problem, but an excuse on Israel’s part,” he alleged. “Our brothers are working in broad daylight, digging with outdated and very weak equipment, and continuing to dig more than 20 meters underground. Even US President Donald Trump himself understands this and is asking for more time.”
While Hamas continues to claim it is unable to reach some of the sites, Israeli defense and intelligence officials maintain that the terror group is withholding the bodies intentionally. On Thursday morning, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and senior officials from the IDF Intelligence Directorate briefed US Vice President JD Vance at the Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv on the latest intelligence.
According to Kan 11 News, the Israeli delegation informed the Vice President that Hamas possesses the capability to recover at least ten of the thirteen bodies of hostages currently held in Gaza — and could do so without any foreign assistance if it chose to act.
{Matzav.com}
Trump Issues Chilling Warning To Putin After Russia Tests New ‘Invincible’ Nuclear Missile
President Trump delivered a stark message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, responding to the Russian leader’s boast about testing a so-called “invincible” nuclear missile. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One before departing for Japan, Trump declared, “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore.”
Putin had proudly announced over the weekend that Russia had completed a successful 8,700-mile, 15-hour test flight of its latest nuclear-powered missile—a weapon Moscow has dubbed a “flying Chernobyl” for its unlimited range and potential to strike anywhere, including the United States.
Trump made clear that he viewed Putin’s remarks as reckless and provocative. “They’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either,” he said, emphasizing his demand that Russia immediately bring its war in Ukraine to a close.
“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its, soon, fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles,” Trump added, criticizing the Kremlin’s fixation on weapons demonstrations while the conflict continues to devastate Ukraine.
As tensions mount, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his pleas for Washington to send long-range missiles, arguing that only greater military pressure can compel Moscow to negotiate peace.
Zelensky welcomed Trump’s new round of sanctions on Russia, expressing hope that the measures would have a real impact. “President Trump is concerned about escalation. But I think that if there are no negotiations, there will be an escalation anyway. I think that if Putin doesn’t stop, we need something to stop him. Sanctions is one such weapon, but we also need long-range missiles,” he told Axios on Sunday.
{Matzav.com}
