Feed aggregator

Tornado-spawning storms tearing across the eastern U.S. killed a toddler in a Detroit suburb and injured at least five in Maryland on Wednesday and left another eight people hurt in Ohio early Thursday. A suspected tornado ripped away a gas station canopy and heavily damaged a restaurant and a discount store early Thursday in the eastern Ohio village of Frazeysburg. Eight people suffered minor injuries, mostly from flying debris, said Jeff Jadwin, the emergency management director in Muskingum County. The storm’s path followed the village’s main street, leaving a trail of uprooted trees and damaged homes from one end to the other, he said. He estimated that at least 100 homes were hit, several of which were destroyed. The village of 1,500 people is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Columbus. Officials in Livonia, Michigan, said the tornado tore through several neighborhoods on Wednesday afternoon and developed so quickly that there was no advance notice from the National Weather Service or others that would have normally led to the activation of warning sirens. The storm uprooted a massive tree that fell on one family’s house and came through the roof, landing on a bed where a woman and her 2-year-old were sleeping, officials said in a post on the city’s website. Crews worked for nearly an hour to remove the roof and parts of the tree and then lift the tree to get the victims out. The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. The mother was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. A 2-week-old sibling who was in a crib in a separate room was not injured but taken to a hospital for an evaluation, Livonia Fire Department Chief Robert Jennison told WDIV-TV. “This is a terrible tragedy for our community,” Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan said in the statement. “Our hearts are broken, too, and we send our deepest sympathies.” The weather service in Detroit confirmed on the social platform X that an EF1 tornado with a peak wind speed of 95 mph (153 kph) moved through Livonia. The agency said the twister traveled a path spanning over 5 miles (8 kilometers), uprooting trees and damaging some homes. A representative from the weather service called it a spin-up storm that didn’t show up on their radars in enough time to issue a warning, according to city officials. By late morning Thursday, 14,000 customers lacked power in southeastern Michigan, DTE Energy said. It has been a grim spring for tornadoes in the U.S., where severe weather killed at least 24 people during the Memorial Day holiday weekend alone. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country. The storms come as climate change contributes in general to the severity of storms around the world. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of several other states on Wednesday night, including Ohio, New Jersey and Delaware. In New Hampshire’s Seacoast area, storms took down trees and caused power outages. In suburban Maryland, emergency workers responded to reports that people were trapped inside collapsed structures after a tornado hit Wednesday night, felling trees, damaging buildings and downing power lines. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer said the most significant damage occurred when a large tree fell on a house in Gaithersburg, injuring five […]

After eight months of war, about half of Hamas’s forces are dead compared to about 300 IDF troops who lost their lives, Reuters reported on Thursday. According to US estimates, the terror group had about 20,000-25,000 terrorists before October 7th and now has between 9,000 and 12,000 terrorists. The terror group has changed its tactics and instead of engaging in outright confrontations with IDF forces in Gaza, is relying on ambushes and improvised bombs. Gazan resident Wissam Ibraham told Reuters: “In earlier months, Hamas fighters would intercept, engage and fire at Israeli troops as soon as they pushed into their territory. But now, there is a notable shift in their mode of operations, they wait for them to deploy and then they start their ambushes and attacks.” The US officials said that the new Hamas tactics could sustain a Hamas insurgency for months, confirming what Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said last week – that the war in Gaza will last for at least another seven months. Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesperson, acknowledged to Reuters that the IDF can’t eliminate every Hamas terrorist or destroy every Hamas tunnel. “There is never a goal to kill each and every last terrorist on the ground. That’s not a realistic goal. Destroying Hamas as a governing authority is an achievable and attainable military objective,” he added. A Biden administration official said that Hamas has shown the ability to withdraw rapidly after attacks, take cover, regroup, and pop up again in areas that Israel already cleared. Lerner agreed that Israel faced a protracted battle to defeat Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006. “There is no quick fix after 17 years of them building their capabilities,” he said. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday reversed a ban on e-cigarette products made by Juul Labs, the company widely identified as making the product that ignited the youth vaping use.

The decision will not immediately affect consumers – Juul products have remained on store shelves as the company appealed the FDA’s initial June 2022 decision to banish the products. The FDA said Thursday the move to rescind the ban was made in light of court cases involving the vaping industry and because the agency has since “gained more experience” with scientific issues involving e-cigarette products.

The agency stressed that the move was not an approval of Juul’s requests to market products but instead returns those applications to the status of pending review.

The company said in a statement it remains confident that a “full review of the science and evidence” will show its products are safe for the public. “We appreciate the FDA’s decision and now look forward to re-engaging with the agency on a science- and evidence-based process,” the company said.

The FDA ordered Juul products off shelves after saying it had worries about the e-cigarette device and pre-filled cartridges in menthol and tobacco flavors. Regulators said they had concerns about “insufficient and conflicting data” about damage to DNA and potentially harmful chemicals leaching from the company’s cartridges.

E-cigarettes emerged as a major public health concern during the past decade. Juul’s popularity skyrocketed after it introduced a sleek vaping device with fruity flavors in 2015. The company’s marketing spurred the growth of the vaping industry while prompting backlash from parents and health officials who blamed Juul for a surge in teenage vaping.

More recently, illegal disposable vapes from China have flooded the market. The FDA has denied hundreds of marketing applications from other companies as legal battles rage. So far, the agency has approved only 23 e-cigarette products.

(c) Washington Post

Monsey Scoop reported on Wednesday morning that a long-serving Shabbos Goy and security guard working in New Square has been let go after a sudden and shocking discovery was made: he is Jewish. The revelation came to light during a casual conversation with a resident, where the “Shabbos Goy” mentioned that his grandmother was Jewish and had lived in a village near Kiev, Ukraine. The news spread like wildfire, and having been provided the information, the Skvere dayanim instructed local askanim to research and verify the facts before the next Shabbos. Following a swift investigation into the man’s ancestry, askanim were able to confirm that the near 70-year-old man with over 15 years of service as a “Shabbos Goy” and previously with the NYPD, was indeed halachically Jewish – despite his insistence upon and identification as a Catholic. As such, the Shabbos Goy has been let go. It was explained to him that he could no longer be employed in his position due to his Jewish heritage, which forbids them from hiring a fellow Jew for work on Shabbos. The incident is reminiscent of a revelation made last summer that a “Shabbos Goy” who had worked for 30 years on a religious yishuv was actually a Jew. This only became know after the man’s death, when his family insisted he be buried in the Jewish cemetery, leading to an investigation into his ancestry. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Joe Biden marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday by pledging “we will not walk away” from Ukraine, drawing a direct line from the fight to liberate Europe from Nazi domination to today’s war against Russian aggression. “To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable,” he said during a ceremony at the American cemetery in Normandy. “If we were to do that, it means we’d be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.” D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in history, and Biden called it a “powerful illustration of how alliances, real alliances make us stronger.” He said that was “a lesson that I pray we Americans never forget.” The comment by the Democratic president was a reminder that American commitments around the globe hang in the balance during this year’s U.S. election. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has said he would not defend European allies that are “delinquent” in their own security spending. The possibility of Trump’s return to the White House has left many of the continent’s leaders fearful that transatlantic unity, which was sealed in blood on D-Day and strengthened in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could fray or even rupture. Trump has expressed little enthusiasm for Ukraine’s defense, criticizing the “endless flow of American treasure” and calling for Europe to shoulder more of the burden. He has also voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump shared his own D-Day anniversary message on social media, praising U.S. soldiers as “immortal heroes.” He was silent on the country’s alliances. Concerns about American reliability extend beyond Trump. Biden struggled to secure bipartisan congressional approval for U.S. military assistance for Ukraine, and months of delay contributed to Russian advances on the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenkyy was in Normandy for anniversary events on Thursday and is expected to sit down with Biden in Paris on Friday. It will be their first meeting since Biden signed legislation with new money for Ukraine’s defense, and Zelenskyy has continued to push for faster and more aggressive U.S. support. One such step took place recently, when Biden eased limitations on how Ukraine can use American weapons, allowing for some strikes into Russia in order to defend Kharkiv, a city near the border between the two countries. Putin reacted angrily, saying he is prepared to use nuclear weapons to protect Russian sovereignty and suggesting that he could provide Russian weapons to those willing to strike Western targets. The war and persistent threats of escalation were an ominous backdrop to the D-Day ceremony, and Biden warned that “democracy is more at risk across the world than any point since the end of World War II.” While paying tribute to the American troops that stormed Normandy’s beaches on June 6, 1944, Biden said “let us be worthy of their sacrifice.” “We must remember that the fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have to do today,” he said. “Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it and fight for it. That’s the test of the ages.” Biden also highlighted “hundreds of thousands of people of color and women who courageously served despite unjust limitation on what they could do for their nation.” Before the ceremony, Biden […]

The University of California, Los Angeles allegedly allowed pro-Hamas protesters to prevent Jewish students from entering campus this spring, according to a lawsuit.

On Wednesday, three Jewish students—Yitzchok Frankel, Joshua Ghayoum and Eden Shemuelian—filed suit against their school, charging that UCLA had “deteriorated into a hotbed of antisemitism.”

In Frankel v. Regents of the University of California, the students state that “on April 25, 2024, and continuing until May 2, 2024, UCLA allowed a group of activists to set up barricades in the center of campus and establish an encampment that blocked access to critical educational infrastructure on campus.”

The nonprofit Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represents the students.

“If masked agitators had excluded any other marginalized group at UCLA, Governor Newsom rightly would have sent in the National Guard immediately,” said Mark Rienzi, president and CEO of Becket. “But UCLA instead caved to the antisemitic activists and allowed its Jewish students to be segregated from the heart of their own campus. That is a profound and illegal failure of leadership.”

{Matzav.com}

The search for 65-year-old Daniel Denan, who has been missing since June 2nd, took an unexpected turn Wednesday night when volunteers from the Israel Dog Unit stumbled upon an abandoned Sefer Torah in an abandoned building. As part of the search efforts, the volunteers from the nonprofit organization, which specializes in working dogs, entered the building and found the Torah among the litter. In coordination with the Israel Police, the Sefer Torah was taken to a suitable location for further investigation to determine its origins and whether it had been stolen. The search for Daniel Denan, who is considered to be in mortal danger due to the extreme heat prevailing in Israel, resumed after the unexpected discovery. The 65-year-old has been missing for over a week, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. State Department commented for the first time on Thursday on controversial statements about Chareid Jews by the incoming chief of Israel’s Labor Party, Yair Golan, who was elected with 95% of the primary vote on May 28.

JNS asked Foggy Bottom about Golan’s prior statements about Charedim, including describing them as a “parasitic population” and denouncing the Jewish community in Yehuda and Shomron, which includes U.S.-Israeli dual citizens, as “subhuman.”

JNS also asked the State Department if Washington would rule out contacts with Golan after a new election in Israel, similar to the administration’s undeclared boycott of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson told JNS that Washington “unequivocally rejects dehumanizing and inflammatory language, regardless of who is targeted by such rhetoric.”

“Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of any democracy and should be respected,” the U.S. official added. The official referred JNS back to Golan for comment “regarding his specific remarks.”

The spokesperson declined to respond to the question of whether the Biden administration would engage with Golan if he were to become part of a future Israeli government.

An ex-Meretz Party lawmaker and former Israel Defense Forces deputy chief of staff, Golan was elected chairman of the Jewish state’s oldest party last week, receiving over 95% of the votes in a round of primaries prompted by the resignation of Merav Michaeli.

Golan has a history of controversial statements. In 2016, he was accused of comparing Israel’s conduct in Yehuda and Shomron to that of Nazi Germany during a speech marking Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day.

Two years ago, while serving as a deputy economy minister in the Bennett-Lapid government on behalf of the Meretz Party, Golan was forced to issue a formal but half-hearted apology after he called Jewish residents of the Homesh outpost in the Shomron “subhuman.”

Shortly before Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel, Golan faced accusations of antisemitism after he attacked Israel’s Charedi population, calling them a “parasitic population.”

“It is impossible to have a huge population that is growing at a rapid rate, a parasitic population in the State of Israel,” Golan stated in a Sept. 11, 2023, interview with Israel’s public Kan Reshet Bet radio station.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerushalayim has reportedly refused to invite Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition of conservative and religious parties to official events.

A survey published on May 30 by the Direct Polls Institute projected that the Labor Party under Golan’s leadership would win eight seats in Israel’s 120-member legislature if elections were to be called.

{Matzav.com}

Boeing’s new capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, delayed by last-minute thruster trouble that almost derailed the docking for this first test flight with astronauts. The 260-mile-high (420-kilometer-high) linkup over the Indian Ocean culminated more than a day of continuing drama for Boeing’s astronaut flight debut carrying NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Boeing plans to keep Starliner at the space station for at least eight days before guiding it to a landing in the western U.S. “Nice to be attached to the big city in the sky,” Wilmore said once the hooks between the two spacecraft were tight. The Starliner capsule already had one small helium leak when it rocketed into orbit with two NASA astronauts Wednesday. Boeing and NASA managers were confident they could manage the propulsion system despite the problem and that more leaks were unlikely. But just hours into the flight, two more leaks cropped up. Later, four of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down. The astronauts managed to restart three of them, providing enough safety margin to proceed. By then, Starliner had passed up the first docking opportunity and circled the world for an extra hour alongside the station before moving in. It was not immediately known whether the thrusters problems were related to the earlier leaks. Earlier in the day, before the thrusters malfunctioned, Boeing spokesman Jim May said the helium leaks posed no safety issues for the astronauts or the mission. Helium is used to pressurize the fuel lines of Starliner’s thrusters, which are essential for maneuvering. Before liftoff, engineers devised a plan to work around any additional leaks in the system. A faulty rubber seal, no bigger than a shirt button, is believed responsible for the original leak. After the space shuttles retired, NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX to ferry astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX’s taxi service began in 2020. Boeing was supposed to start around the same time, but was held up for years by safety concerns and other troubles. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

In a world where hope can sometimes feel out of reach, Ohr Naava offers support, guidance, and a renewed sense of purpose to countless girls & women. As we launch our “Never Give Up On A Soul” Charidy campaign, we invite you to join us in making a profound impact on the lives of those in need.

Founded with a mission to provide a nurturing environment for personal growth, Ohr Naava is dedicated to empowering individuals through education, counseling, and community programs.

We aim to raise $1 million during this crucial campaign. These funds will be used to enhance our existing programs, introduce new initiatives, and ensure that no soul seeking help is ever turned away. With your help, we can achieve this goal and continue to provide life-changing support to those who need it most.

Every dollar counts as two (2x matched). Your generous contribution will make a significant difference in the lives of individuals seeking support and guidance.

At Ohr Naava, Rabbi Wallerstein a”h, believed that every soul was worth saving. With your support, we can continue to provide the love, care, and guidance that Rabbi Wallerstein a”h taught us. Together, we can ensure that no one is ever left to struggle alone.

Make it Happen:
June 5-7 | $1 million goal | 2x every donation doubled

Donate Now to the “Never Give Up On A Soul” Campaign

Charidy.com/ohrnaava

718-647-6228 ext. 205

ssturman@ohrnaava.com

WATCH:

Four Republican senators are urging Merrick Garland, the U.S. attorney general, to investigate the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, whom they accused of having “broken American law by materially supporting terrorism through his unjust and unjustified targeting of Israel’s prime minister and defense minister.”

The ICC, a judicial arm of the United Nations in The Hague, took “action against Israel—which Hamas requested and now applauds” that “manifestly provides ‘material support’ to Hamas by attempting to isolate Israel politically and diplomatically through legal advocacy for Hamas,” per the letter, which Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) led.

“The extent of ICC-Hamas coordination is unknown, but express statements by Mr. Khan and others associated with the prosecution suggest that the coordination may have been extensive,” the letter added.

Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) were the other signatories.

“Hamas, which has governed Gaza for nearly 20 years, is a U.S.-designated foreign-terrorist organization. Federal law prohibits any material support to terrorist groups, including ‘expert advice or assistance,’ which the law defines as ‘advice or assistance derived from scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge,’” the senators wrote.

“The use of an international organization to advance the interests of a terrorist organization can qualify as material support, particularly when done ‘in coordination’ which such groups,” they added.

The senators wrote that Hamas requested and applauds the ICC’s action against the Jewish state which “manifestly provides ‘material support’ to Hamas by attempting to isolate Israel politically and diplomatically through legal advocacy for Hamas.”

The four senators noted that the witnesses from whom Khan took “evidence” when requesting arrest warrants for Israeli leaders could have been “Hamas members, agents, or sympathizers.” They added that the U.N. prosecutor said he consulted with “local … doctors” in Gaza.

“Of course, Gazan hospitals are often Hamas military bases, operated with the cooperation of medical staff, some of whom are senior Hamas officials,” they wrote. “Mr. Khan also visited the Rafah border crossing in February, which Hamas controlled at the time.”

The senators sought information about Khan’s sources under Hamas control, who arranged his trip to and security in Rafah and his contacts with organizations with Hamas ties.

“ICC prosecutors aren’t above the law. Nor is Mr. Khan’s potential criminal liability diminished by his request for arrest warrants against Hamas officials,” the senators wrote. “In fact, his simultaneous requests may have been designed to equate the terrorists who orchestrated the Oct. 7 massacre and continue to hold innocent civilian hostages with the leaders of our democratic ally.”

“Not only is such false equivalency through legal advocacy unconscionable, but it too provides material support to Hamas,” they added.

The senators called on the U.S. attorney general to investigate the U.N. prosecutor immediately.

“If not, we suspect a more responsible administration will do so next year,” they wrote. “Either way, Mr. Khan is due for a taste of his own medicine.”

{Matzav.com}

Tragedy struck Sderot on Thursday, as a 16-month-old infant was found unconscious and in critical condition  after being mistakenly left in a locked vehicle during hot weather. First responders were called to the scene and found the infant in the arms of a civilian, outside the vehicle. The infant had no heartbeat, was not breathing, and was extremely hot to the touch. The paramedics immediately began resuscitation efforts, including cooling, massages, breaths, and medication administration. The infant was transported to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon in a mobile ICU unit, but unfortunately, was declared dead shortly after arrival. In response to this tragedy, MDA urged parents and school bus drivers to exercise extreme caution and ensure that all children are accounted for at the end of every trip. A simple scan of the vehicle can help prevent such devastating incidents from occurring in the future. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A terrorist from the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades was granted a lenient plea bargain, according to Almog Boker of Channel 13. The terrorist was arrested after launching 5 rockets at Sderot, and then attempting to infiltrate Israel in 2022. He was charged with attempted murder, five counts of transporting and carrying weapons, and illegally entering Israel.

The terrorist reached a plea bargain of only 17 years in prison for his crimes. The judges explained the reasons for the decision: “The lack of previous convictions, the time that passed, and because he has two children.”

The judges noted that “it is difficult to exaggerate the severity of the actions of the suspect who was a substantial link in carrying out rocket launches at Sderot, indiscriminate fire at the population with the aim of mass killing as well as property damage.”

The judges described in detail the severity of his actions, but then proceeded to sentence him to a lenient punishment. “To our dismay, the reality teaches that these actions have more than once led to deadly results.”

{Matzav.com}

A new study published in BMJ Public Health has sparked concerns about the potential link between COVID vaccines and excess deaths in Western countries. Analyzing mortality data from 47 countries, researchers from the Netherlands’ Vrije Universiteit found that excess mortality has remained high since 2020, despite widespread vaccine rollout and containment measures. The study reported over 3 million excess deaths in the US, Europe, and Australia since 2020, with figures remaining high in subsequent years. Researchers urged governments to investigate the underlying causes, including possible vaccine harms. Documented side effects include ischemic strokes, acute coronary syndromes, and brain hemorrhages. The study authors emphasized that every life deserves protection, and the same moral applied during the pandemic should apply in its aftermath. The researchers called for a thorough investigation into the causes of persistent excess mortality. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 1.1 million Americans have died from COVID since the pandemic began. The study’s findings raise important questions about the potential role of COVID vaccines in excess deaths and highlight the need for further research and investigation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, must report to prison by July 1 to serve his four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the U.S. Capitol insurrection, a federal judge ruled Thursday. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington granted the Justice Department’s request to make Bannon begin his prison term after a federal appeals court panel last month upheld his contempt of Congress conviction. Bannon is expected to seek a stay of the judge’s order, which could delay his surrender date. “I’ve got great lawyers, and we’re going to go all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,” he told reporters outside the courthouse. Bannon cast the case as politically motivated, saying “this is about shutting down the MAGA movement.” “There’s not a prison built or jail built that will ever shut me up,” Bannon said. Bannon was convicted nearly two years ago of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the Jan. 6 House Committee and the other for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Nichols, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, a Republican, had initially allowed him to remain free while he fought his conviction because the judge believed the case raised substantial legal questions. But during a hearing in Washington’s federal court, Nichols said the calculus changed after the appeals court panel said all of Bannon’s challenges lack merit. “I do not believe the original basis for my stay exists any longer,” Nichols said. Bannon can appeal his conviction to the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Prosecutor John Crabb told the judge it was “very unlikely” Bannon would succeed in getting his conviction thrown out. Bannon’s lawyer at trial argued at trial that the former adviser didn’t ignore the subpoena but was still engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged. The defense has said Bannon had been acting on the advice of his attorney at the time, who told him that the subpoena was invalid because the committee would not allow a Trump lawyer in the room and that Bannon could not determine what documents or testimony he could provide because Trump has asserted executive privilege. Defense lawyer David Schoen told the judge it would be unfair to send Bannon to prison now because he would complete his entire prison sentence before he exhausted his appeals. Schoen said the case raises “serious constitutional issues” that need to be examined by the Supreme Court. “In this country, we don’t send anyone to prison if they believe that they were doing something that complied with the law,” he told reporters. A second Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, was also convicted of contempt of Congress. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence. Navarro, too, had maintained that he couldn’t cooperate with the committee because Trump had invoked executive privilege. But courts have rejected that argument, finding Navarro couldn’t prove Trump had actually invoked it. The House Jan. 6 committee’s final report asserted that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn […]

Intense controversy and criticism was directed on Thursday at the IDF’s rules of engagement, after it was reported that soldiers waited to fired upon, before opening fire on the terrorists who attempted to invade Israel from the Rafah area. An IDF soldier was killed in the incident.

The IDF stated: “The IDF force that carried out scans in the area of ​​the fence identified a number of suspects who approached the border from the Gaza Strip and moved towards Israeli territory in an attempt to cross the barrier area in the Rafah area. The force that carried out scans in the area encountered the terrorists who opened fire on them, and fired back at the terrorists.”

Almog Boker of Channel 13 News wondered why the air force did not launch a strike against the terrorists and thereby prevent the death of Warrant Officer Zeed Mazarib.

Boker wrote: “If it wasn’t clear until today, and it’s sad that it was, it must be clear from now on: Every Gazan who approaches the fence, and I don’t care if he is ‘involved’ or ‘uninvolved’, should understand that he is not coming home. Attack from the air and end the incident.”

He continued saying: “We should not endanger our forces. Attack from the air. Destroy them. Today we paid a heavy price for [not doing] it. No more. What exactly are we waiting for? For the squad armed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs to arrive in a town and murder more residents. It’s either them or us. Shouldn’t this have been clear already???”

Ofra Lax, another journalist, wrote: “I’ve been racking my head since this morning about the IDF spokesperson’s announcement that the terrorists opened fire on them first. The instructions on opening fire are shocking. They were never appropriate for the Gaza border and today they certainly aren’t.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF says that soldiers from the 828th Infantry Training School Brigade, under the command of the 162nd Division, have been conducting targeted operations in the Rafah area over the past few weeks. The operations, which have been precise and intelligence-based, have resulted in the location of weapons, the elimination of terrorists, and the destruction of terrorist infrastructure. In one incident, the troops found a tunnel shaft inside a child’s room, along with a butcher’s knife next to it – highlighting once again the willingness of terrorists to put innocent lives at risk in pursuit of their goals. In addition, the troops identified six terrorists near a school in the area, who were subsequently eliminated by a combination of UAV and tank fire. The 828th Brigade Combat Team has now completed its mission in the Rafah area and is preparing for future operations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The great Abie Rotenberg immortalized the importance of the annual Lag Ba’Omer Yeshiva and Beis Yaakov trips of our youth with his song The Ninth Man. After all, it was the bases loaded homerun hit by their Rebbe that changed the lives of those “Bums from the East Side” forever. For most, that trip was last week, but for a select group of special children, they finally had their opportunity to experience their trip earlier today. You see, the children that we speak of are not regular Yeshiva kids, rather these are the children of the Ditmas Children’s Center. Most of them have never seen the outside of their adopted home, other than for medical appointments and Chas V’Shalom hospital visits. With the incredible success of last years Tashlich event fresh in their mind, the Administration of the Center decided that a Lag Ba’Omer trip would be the perfect respite needed by the patients and their families. After searching high and low while trying to find the right venue, they realized that the answer was practically right in front of them. They reached out to the New York City Parks Department with an unusual request. Would the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens be willing to host a group of approximately 20 special needs children and their families for a few hours? The request was approved and the planning began in earnest. The logistics involved were enormous. Many of the children were dependent on ventilators and other medical devices. Additional facility staffing would need to be brought in to ensure that all of the children would be properly cared for outside of the facility. Extra equipment would be needed in case of a device failure. Transportation would need to be arranged for all the patients and the staff. Medical personal would be required to operate the equipment and be there in case of an emergency. One by one, items on the list were checked off and the plan began to fall in place. There was one minor detail, however, that seemed beyond anyone’s control, and that was the weather. Early on, it appeared that there was a possibility of rain. As the event approached, the slight chance of rain grew into an almost certainty of morning of showers. One after another, alternate venues were considered and discarded and the mood turned somber. With no other choice, a decision was made to stick to the original plan and hope for the best. Those involved davened with extra Kavanah for a little Siyata DiShmaya. Morning broke with rain and clouds throughout the area. As the time arrived to assemble the situation looked bleak. But as we know, HaKadosh Baruch Hu takes cares of His children, especially the special ones, and clearly, He had other plans. Suddenly the rain stopped and the clouds began to disperse. The excitement in the air was palpable as the care providers assisted in loading their little charges into their rides for the day. In a procession befitting of visiting dignitaries, they were off! By the time children arrived at the Gardens there was nary a cloud to be seen. With well-choregraphed precision, the children were transferred to their special strollers and wheel chairs. And what a sight it was. Parents, alongside caregivers, walked their strollers through the park and settled […]