Sunday, July 27, 2025

07/27 Links: The Truth Behind the Viral Gazan Famine Photo; Netanyahu: UN is lying about entry of aid to Gaza; “Finishing the Job” in Gaza: What It Means and What It Takes

From Ian:

David Collier: The Truth Behind the Viral Gazan Famine Photo
Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq /Mutawwaq (was born with serious genetic disorders. He has needed specialist medical supplements since birth. Like previous examples of the media using ‘starving children’ going back to summer 2024 – the image is of a child suffering underlying (and hidden) health issues.

A medical report issued in May 2025 by the Basma Association for Relief in Gaza states that Mohammed, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy – a group of neurological disorders affecting movement, muscle tone, and posture. The report notes that Mohammed suffers from hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood), possibly linked to a suspected genetic disorder inherited in an ‘autosomal recessive pattern.’

There is no argument here. I have seen a copy of this report (but obviously won’t produce in full here a child’s medical diagnosis). It was signed by Dr Saeed Mohammed Al Nassan on 20th May 2025:

This revelation raises serious issues of media integrity. The Daily Express picked up a viral image circulating online and published it without verification or context – a textbook example of clickbait journalism, where emotional impact is prioritised over everything else.

The BBC – as per usual went a step further. The BBC *spoke* to his mother, Huda Yassin Al-Matouq / Mutawwaq – and produced a 64 second interview that somehow failed to disclose that Mohammed was a child born with genetic problems and complex medical dependencies. Even in the BBC video, the mother alludes to this – referencing a prolonged struggle, including physiotherapy sessions that had helped him stand. The curvature of the spine another key clue tying the child to a CP diagnosis. But the BBC narrator never addresses this – leaving the audience to believe the heartbreaking physical condition we are seeing is the result of widespread famine.

This is not journalism. This is the UK’s state media deliberately pushing a deceptive narrative that only serves to benefit Hamas and create fake news.

How Mohammed’s Father Was Used to Paint a Narrative
The story being told through legacy media outlets such as the NYT is that Mohammed’s father was killed while going out to collect food. Again, to underline the Gaza hunger tragedy narrative.

This has been reported without any attempt at verification. From the death certificate I can see the father Zakaria Ayoub Al-Matouq / Mutawwaq (زكريا أيوب المطوق) was killed on 28 October 2024:

From online sources it turns out that Mohammed’s father, was killed in Jabalia, in what appears to be a targeted strike on ‘al Qassabeeb’ street.

We can also see that Hamas were attacking the IDF in precisely that spot at the time (posts from 26 & 27th October).

Between the 25th October and the 29th, Israel lost six soldiers in the area. In this Hamas footage, which shows wide angle views of part of the same ‘street’ on 26th October, it is not possible to see exactly where Mohammed’s father would have been looking for food:

Whether or not he was armed, Mohammed’s father died on a battlefield where Hamas was actively attacking Israeli forces. Whatever the truth about ‘looking for food’, Hamas bears responsibility for bringing the conflict to that street and the media ignored this context entirely.

A Personal Note
Digging for the truth behind images like this is not easy. We’re dealing with a live war zone – real people, real pain, and tragic situations like Mohammed’s. These kinds of personal tragedies happen in every war, in every era.

What is unique – and toxic – is how images of the tragic consequences of urban warfare are being weaponised to build false global narratives. In this case, the lie is of a Gaza gripped by mass famine and children dying from hunger.

And here’s the bitter truth: I shouldn’t have to do this. It shouldn’t fall on me to call out the world’s biggest media outlets for their failure to act like journalists. Why are almost all of them functioning as Hamas’ useful idiots, amplifying propaganda with no effort to verify the facts? Is it really too much to expect them to do their jobs?
John Spencer: “Finishing the Job” in Gaza: What It Means and What It Takes
Hamas has refused to negotiate the return of hostages or discuss disarmament. President Trump recently said, "It got to a point where you're gonna have to finish the job." But what does "finishing the job" in Gaza actually mean?

Global recognition of Israel's legitimate and just war objectives must be the starting point. Many voices calling for an immediate ceasefire argue that the war can end without removing Hamas's military capabilities or political power. That position is fundamentally flawed. Any resolution that allows Hamas to retain power, even partially, ensures that the group will rebuild and repeat this cycle of violence in the future. Only the full military and political removal of Hamas from Gaza can create the conditions necessary for peace.

Humanitarian assistance must be delivered through mechanisms that do not rely on or empower Hamas. By restoring food access outside of Hamas control, Israel helps shift civilian reliance away from Hamas's shadow governance.

While headlines often focus on warnings of famine, more food is now flowing into Gaza. Hundreds of UN aid trucks are being distributed daily. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) continues to deliver up to two million meals a day across four sites. It has also established a system that allows approved groups to pick up aid and deliver it to the most vulnerable areas.

The Israel Defense Forces will continue to enter contested areas to systematically target Hamas fighters, dismantle Hamas infrastructure, and clear Gaza of their military presence. This is a slow, deliberate, and dangerous process involving close-quarters combat and tunnel detection and destruction. This cannot and should not be rushed.

This is not a call for a forever war in Gaza. This is a clear-eyed statement of what it will take to take the guns from Hamas. This is the essential first step. Before anything meaningful can be built, the threat must be removed. Once areas are cleared of Hamas, Israel can begin to explore what force will provide security, and which Palestinian actors can help stabilize areas. But none of that is possible if Hamas remains intact.
Andrew Fox: What next for Gaza?
Conclusion
Each party is manoeuvring to influence what happens next, but none can determine the outcome independently. The military stalemate has shown that neither Israel nor Hamas can fully accomplish their war objectives through force alone. Israel can devastate Gaza and weaken Hamas, but cannot entirely eliminate the notion of Hamas or secure lasting peace through military power. Hamas can survive and extract limited concessions, such as prisoner exchanges, but it cannot militarily defeat Israel or achieve significant improvements for Palestinians by continuing the fight. This mutual deadlock underscores the need for diplomacy and strategic political manoeuvring to prevail in the long run.

In Jerusalem, the harsh truth policymakers face is that even “victory” over Hamas would be pyrrhic without a plan for who governs Gaza afterwards. The Gaza Strip’s future will not be decided in isolation from the broader Palestinian and regional context. Simply put, Gaza’s fate is linked to the West Bank and to Arab-Israeli relations. A sustainable solution probably involves reintegrating Gaza with the Palestinian Authority and international support, effectively undoing Hamas’s 16-year rule. That outcome will require coordination between bitter rivals, strong security arrangements to prevent Hamas’s return, and substantial reconstruction efforts. It is a tall order, but anything less risks Gaza remaining a powder keg.

Hamas, for its part, will attempt to wait out Israeli and American resolve. If faced with imminent destruction or a loss of control, Hamas might adjust its stance, perhaps agreeing to a longer ceasefire or accepting a third-party security presence in exchange for its political survival. However, Hamas’s ideology and history suggest it will not disarm or relinquish control voluntarily. The endgame could therefore involve forcing Hamas’s compliance or fragmenting the organisation, rather than securing its cooperative agreement. How this is done remains a much more challenging question.

Any ceasefire will need to address core needs: guarantees for Israel that Hamas will not re-arm or carry out attacks again, and guarantees for Palestinians that they will not continue living under siege and bombardment. This might involve creative measures, such as international monitors at Gaza’s crossings or a multinational force (perhaps from Arab countries). These are all challenging but achievable if key stakeholders agree to support it.

Saudi Arabia’s involvement will be crucial in this context. As the leader of the Arab world’s move towards a new regional order, Saudi Arabia could help legitimise a new Gaza arrangement by offering political support and funding. The Kingdom has proposed a major donors' conference for Gaza reconstruction once the war concludes, presumably linking contributions to specific political outcomes (such as no Hamas in power). These incentives, along with US pressure and Israeli public fatigue, may ultimately lead to a shift toward a negotiated resolution.

Nevertheless, significant uncertainties remain. Will Israel’s government, pressed domestically and internationally, choose to cut losses and shift to diplomacy, or will it intensify military actions again? Will Hamas’s gamble on international intervention succeed, or will the group become isolated if regional patience runs out? Can the moderate Palestinian leadership step in, despite its diminished credibility, or will Gaza descend into chaos if Hamas is removed? These questions currently lack clear answers.

What is clear is that the status quo is unsustainable. “The war in Gaza must end now,” as a joint statement by 28 nations urged in July 2025. The next phase is probably going to be crucial. If a ceasefire agreement can be negotiated that exchanges the final hostages for an Israeli withdrawal under international guarantees, it might open the way for a new chapter for Gaza and the region. Hamas would be left greatly weakened and possibly sidelined in governance, while Israel could claim it has crippled the group and brought its people home. Israel’s security would then depend on new arrangements (border monitors, anti-smuggling measures, etc.) to prevent Hamas’s return, supported by US and regional commitments. Palestinians in Gaza, at last, would see the bombs cease and the difficult work of rebuilding begin, ideally with global support.

On the other hand, if the current trajectory continues with neither side compromising, the outcome could be either a bloody fight to the end (with Israel eventually overrunning Gaza amid severe losses), or a breakdown of negotiations that leaves Gaza in a state of perpetual low-level conflict. The former would be a humanitarian and diplomatic catastrophe, and the latter a recipe for another war in the future. Neither is a future anyone wants.

In the final analysis, both sides have something to gain from a responsible end to this war and much to lose from its indefinite continuation. Israel can secure its border and international standing only by ending the carnage and enabling a stable Gaza to take root, rather than owning an impoverished open-air prison next door. Hamas’s best hope for relevance is to stop the war before it is utterly destroyed, even if that means yielding governance to others, because Gazans’ anger at their suffering could yet turn against Hamas itself if fighting persists. The United States and its allies know that peace and progress in the Middle East cannot advance until Gaza is no longer a war zone. Regional powers from Saudi Arabia to Egypt to Qatar recognise that the legitimacy of their leadership and the security of the region hinges on alleviating the Gaza tragedy and moving towards a just political solution.

The path to that solution is challenging, but the general outlines are clear: a ceasefire in exchange for the return of hostages, the marginalisation of extremists (on the Israeli side as well – a whole other matter), and Gazans given a chance at normal life under a new authority. Achieving this will require unprecedented levels of coordination and goodwill, considering the scale of bloodshed. As the smoke gradually clears over Gaza’s devastated skyline, the world will watch to see if leaders on all sides can take the opportunity to create a better future from the ruins of war.


Israel Wants the Same Rights as Every Other Nation
Every time Israel defends itself, people are quick to condemn. Every time it fights to exist, critics demand it explain itself. But what would you do if your neighbors wanted to burn your house down? The day Israel declared independence, five Arab armies attacked because they couldn't accept a Jewish state.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas crossed into Israel and carried out one of the worst massacres of Jews since the Holocaust. They murdered babies, burned families alive, and took hostages. It wasn't resistance. It was hatred, deliberate and unrelenting. And still, when Israel fights back, the world tells it to be measured, to show restraint. Try diplomacy, they say, with people who want to kill them.

UN panels, human rights groups, politicians and celebrities line up to judge Israel by a different standard. They just expect Israel to take the punches and apologize for surviving. Why are the rules different? Israel is doing what any nation would do under attack. The double standard is dangerous. It tells a global audience that Jewish suffering is negotiable, and that Jewish self-defense is somehow unacceptable.

The Jewish people have had to learn to survive in every kind of darkness, to rebuild in the ashes, and to grow stronger than those who tried to destroy them. That strength isn't aggression. It's resilience. It's experience. And it's what keeps Israel alive today. Israel isn't asking for sympathy. It's asking for the same right every nation demands, the right to defend itself, and the right to live.
International Condemnation of Israel Gives Hamas a Reason to Stall on Ceasefire Deal
There is a Gaza ceasefire deal on the table, but Hamas delays. It dithers over clauses, sends out positive signals only to later walk them back. It's about a deal that could relieve the unbearable conditions of the very people Hamas claims to represent. Yet, Hamas haggles. It stalls. And the longer it delays, the more the spotlight shifts - toward Israel. The world places nearly all the blame and responsibility on Israel, as though Hamas has nothing to do with the dire food shortages.

And in so doing, the international community only prolongs the suffering. Each angry UN condemnation, each news report that shows scenes of devastation without critical context, each harsh statement from Western democracies gives Hamas oxygen. And Hamas calculates that by dragging this out longer - by letting the death toll tick higher - the world will eventually force Israel's hand.

There's no mention at all about Hamas's responsibility for any of this. Nothing about Hamas's role in the death of Palestinians seeking aid, because it wants to thwart any aid delivery mechanism not under its control.

Today, with negotiations at another critical juncture, history repeats itself: as soon as diplomatic progress seems possible, a wave of external pressure targets Israel, Hamas publicly celebrates, and the incentive for it to compromise disappears. International actors, whether intentionally or not, are providing Hamas both political cover and motivation to prolong the conflict.

Brett McGurk, the Biden administration's former National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and one of its top hostage deal negotiators, told the Aspen Security Forum on July 16 that a Gaza deal was nearly reached in May 2024. "On May 7, there was a deal on the table that gave Hamas 85% of everything it wanted that could have stopped the war the next day, but Hamas did not answer" until six weeks later, when it "fundamentally changed the whole thing."

On August 16, another deal was offered, this time one that "had about 95% of what Hamas wanted, and again they did not say yes, they did not answer. This war could have stopped at multiple times if Hamas stopped the war and released hostages."

The claim that Israel - not Hamas - is the main obstacle to a deal contradicts what key figures directly involved in the negotiations are saying. They are senior officials speaking publicly and on the record. In January, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked by the New York Times whether Netanyahu blocked a ceasefire last July that could have led to the hostages' release. His reply: "No, that's not accurate. What we've seen time and again is Hamas not concluding a deal that it should have concluded."
Seth Frantzman: Ceasefires and frustrations: Trump's foreign war doctrine reaches sternest test in Gaza
Trump doctrine frustrations
However, the 60-day ceasefire that the White House was working toward between Israel and Gaza did not come to fruition in Gaza. This has left the Trump doctrine with some frustrations. There is no new Iran deal, there is no deal in Ukraine, and the war in Gaza has continued.

While the US has backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's initiative to deliver aid to Gaza, this organization can only deliver a limited amount of aid. The GHF model delivers millions of meals a day via boxes that are transported by trucks to several distribution points. It has delivered around 92 million meals to date, the organization said on July 25.

The GHF concept works up to a point in Gaza. However, the pressure has built on Israel to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With some 2 million people concentrated in around 30 percent of Gaza that is still controlled by Hamas, it is clear that Hamas will continue to control the lives of most Gazans.

No alternative government has been proposed for the Gaza Strip. There is no clear post-war plan. GHF’s model, providing aid via a few sites and having people walk miles to get it and carry boxes, is not a long-term solution to feeding Gaza.

Trump likely knows this. He wanted a ceasefire. However, the process that helped lead to the January ceasefire has not been effective this time. This is because Hamas wants an end to the war, and Israel prefers short ceasefire deals and a return to fighting. Trump would prefer to end this war.

This leaves the Trump doctrine with question marks about what comes next. Even though the US has sought to pivot its focus to Asia rather than the Middle East, the Middle East still appears to be a primary focus. Trump’s doctrine will need to examine what comes next as long as that remains the case.
Michal Cotler-Wunsh and John Spencer: Recognizing a Palestinian State Now Would Sentence All Sides to Perpetual Terror
This normalization of political violence is not occurring in a vacuum. It is fueled by an ideology that long predates October 7, one that has adapted across generations and now presents itself in the language of rights and justice. Antisemitism has always mutated to fit the dominant moral framework of its time. In our era, it has attached itself to human rights discourse, international law, and anti-colonial narratives. It no longer excludes only individual Jews. It now targets the Jewish state itself, reestablished by an indigenous people after thousands of years of exile and persecution, denying it equal standing in the international system.

Systematic demonization, delegitimization, and double standards are not accidental. They are the modern architecture of antisemitism, embedded in global discourse and institutions that claim to speak for justice but increasingly act as platforms for incitement and erasure.

This is not an Israeli concern alone. It is a threat to the foundations of democratic civilization. The international infrastructure built after World War II is being hollowed out from within. Institutions created to safeguard humanity are now manipulated to shield terror regimes and to criminalize those who defend against them. The frameworks that once protected human dignity are being turned inside out. What was meant to prevent another Holocaust is now being used to justify the next atrocity.

Palestinian self-determination may be a legitimate aspiration. But sovereignty requires more than grievance. It requires a defined territory, a legitimate and unified government, and a commitment to reject violence and live in peace with neighbors. Until Palestinian leadership meets these standards, recognition would not represent justice. It would represent capitulation.

Recognizing a Palestinian state now would destroy any incentive for reform. It would entrench division, glorify terror, and sideline those seeking genuine coexistence. It would weaken the moral credibility of international law and strengthen the strategic position of actors who see civilian slaughter as a pathway to statehood.

This is not a diplomatic breakthrough. It is appeasement. And appeasement in the face of evil is how democracies fall.

In 2025, the choice is clear. Uphold the legal, moral, and strategic standards of sovereignty and peace, or abandon them in the name of political symbolism. If the legacy of October 7 is a Palestinian flag raised at the United Nations, it will not represent hope. It will represent the day the rules stopped mattering.

Statehood must be earned. It is not a prize for bloodshed. To grant it now would confirm to the world that even the most sacred principles of the international order are negotiable. That must never happen.


JPost Editorial: Macron's mistake: Thinking a Palestinian state will bring peace
At least French President Emmanuel Macron got one thing right.

In announcing on Thursday night that France will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, he wrote: “there must be an immediate ceasefire [in Gaza], the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. It is also necessary to ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, [and to] secure and rebuild Gaza.”

Those are all points about which there is consensus among Israelis, and among the countries that care about Israel and the Middle East.

The future of a Palestinian state
However, does Macron actually think that recognizing Palestine will achieve those goals?

“We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” he wrote.

France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities, will become the first major Western country to recognize a Palestinian state after Spain announced its recognition last year, and it may spur greater momentum for other countries to join the bandwagon.

In declaring France’s intentions, Macron will have his country joining India, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Brazil, Ireland, and Mexico, among the 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations, who have recognized Palestine.

As expected, Macron’s announcement was met with criticism from both Israel and the US.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that a Palestinian state “rewards terror” and poses an existential threat to Israel.

It “risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” which would be “a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it,” he said.
France held secret meeting with Hamas in 2020
Paris has been carrying out “secret contacts” with Hamas at least since October 2020, when a high-ranking French intelligence official met two with senior Hamas figures in Doha, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Saturday.

The meeting, initiated by the French, came to Israel’s knowledge through a document captured by the IDF in Gaza, which provided a detailed report on the meeting.

On Oct. 16, 2020, the No. 3 in French intelligence met with Hamas senior officials Moussa Abu Marzouk and Khaled Mashaal, respectively the former and current chairman of Hamas’s so-called political bureau.

The captured document revealed the minutes of the Qatar talks.

“I am happy about this meeting. I come to it with President [Emmanuel] Macron’s approval. We don’t want to talk only to the Palestinian Authority, but also to you. We, the French, are historically close to the Palestinian struggle,” the French intelligence representative told the Hamas officials.

He also said France was highly critical of the way the United States was handling the Palestinian issue, Channel 12 reported.

Abu Marzouk and Mashaal replied: “Even if the international community supports the Zionist entity, be sure that we will defeat it. This land is ours, and our resistance and revolution have been going on for more than a century, and we will continue until victory.”

The document shows no mention of the French protesting the clear statements of Hamas’s intent to destroy Israel.

The revelation comes as Macron announced his intention to recognize a Palestinian state, posting to social media on July 24: “I will make the solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September.’’


Jewish Campers Were Kicked Off a Plane in Europe. Their Story Is All Too Familiar to Me.
There’s another video—this one didn’t go viral—filmed after news spread of the kids who were kicked off the plane. This one is taken inside a bus full of French Jewish children en route to the airport. A young man, later addressed as Ethan and who I assume is their camp counselor, stands at the front of the bus. He looks tall and thin—he can’t be more than 20 years old. He’s telling the kids that when they arrive at the airport later that day, they need to get by unnoticed.

He tells them to take off their kippahs, tuck their tzitzit into their pants, and put any distinct religious symbol—tefillin; a Jewish star; a chai—in their checked suitcase so nobody can find it. “Do not give these antisemites a reason to kick us off the plane,” he warns them in French, sounding stern, and a little scared himself.

A young child’s voice chimes in: “I have a kippah in my bag.” He asks his counselor, “What do I do?”

When I watched these videos, I was horrified, but I wasn’t surprised. It sounded all too familiar to me.

In the summer of 2015, I offered those same warnings to a dozen kids, ranging in age from 8 to 13, while camping out in the Dordogne, in the southwest of France, with a group called The Jewish Guides and Scouts of France (EEIF). I grew up in France going to summer camp each year, and by the time I was 15, I had become one of the younger counselors. We were on what we called an exploration—a four-day trek through the woods, where we carried our food and tents, slept under the stars, and where me and three other 15-year-olds were leading the walk.

Within the campgrounds, we sang Hebrew songs at the top of our lungs, baked challah in an underground oven we dug ourselves, and broke the fast of Tisha B’Av each summer with caramelized French toast cooked over the fire. But once we stepped out of the camp, we had to tone everything down. Tzitzit tucked in, kippahs off, and Hebrew, whether sung or spoken, had to be kept quiet.

One day, we stopped for sodas in a small shop. There, an older man started speaking with a young boy in my troop, asking him questions about his nose and inquiring whether he was Jewish. At that moment I froze. Then I made the entire group get up, I grabbed the boy by the arm, and we rushed out of the store.

That memory has stuck with me. After that moment I understood my responsibility for the children’s safety. I felt I had no choice but to make sure these kids could navigate the world unnoticed—just like the young counselor in the video a decade later.

That responsibility weighed on me each day. Not because I doubted my ability to be a good leader, but because I knew we were a group of visibly Jewish children and teenagers. Every single decision, where we stopped to eat, where we prayed—usually, and deliberately, in the middle of nowhere—whether they wore their kippahs or tucked their tzitzit away—felt high stakes.

And not just because their families had entrusted me with their children, but because these were Jewish children, in France, a country where, by then, a climate of fear had set in among the Jewish community.

In 2012, a terrorist named Mohammed Merah opened fire at Ozar Hatorah Jewish School in Toulouse, murdering three children and a teacher in cold blood. Six years earlier, in 2006, Ilan Halimi was kidnapped by a group that called themselves the “Gang des Barbares (Gang of Barbarians).” Halimi, 23, was lured to an apartment in Paris by a woman, and held captive and tortured there for three weeks. The building’s super and some of the neighbors knew what was going on and were paid not to talk. His kidnappers demanded 450,000 euros from his parents, because they assumed that “Jews have money.” Three weeks later, his body was found, naked and burned, dumped near train tracks in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, just outside the city.

In July 2014, I was at summer camp during another war in Gaza that began after three Israeli hitchhikers were kidnapped in the West Bank. Anti-Israel demonstrations in the suburb of Sarcelles, home to one of the biggest Jewish communities in France and often referred to as “Little Jerusalem,” turned into a pogrom. Protesters tried to storm synagogues and looted Jewish-owned businesses.

My parents decided we were no longer safe. We left France the following year for America.


Man shouts 'Allahu Akbar' on UK easyJet flight, 'wanted to send message to Trump'
A man was removed from an easyJet flight from London to Glasgow on Sunday, after repeatedly shouting 'Allahu Akbar' and yelling that he has a bomb. Video footage showing a man shouting Allahu Akbar, and claiming to have a bomb aboard an easyJet flight, July 27, 2025. (credit: Section 27A of the Copyright Act via Telegram) He claimed he wanted to "send a message" to US President Donald Trump, who is currently in Scotland.

Footage seen by the BBC showed the suspected terrorist shouting "death to America, death to Trump."

Video footage seen by Glasgow-based outlet The Renfrewshire Gazette showed passengers tackling the suspected terrorist.

One passenger told London-based tabloid, The Sun: “He literally came out of the toilet shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ with his hands above his head. Then he said ‘I’ve got a bomb, I’ve got a bomb’ - at this point, people were confused."

"I thought he was joking, I mean, it’s a weird joke.” They said: “He pushed the airline staff and was being aggressive towards them. He was a big guy, about six foot, and they were these petite women," the passenger added.

"When he pushed them, that’s when things changed. At that point, one guy managed to grab him from behind and pull him down, then everyone jumped on top of him. “He was fighting a bit on the floor, but at this point he knew he’d f***** up."

The plane was forced to undergo an emergency landing at Glasgow Airport, where police boarded the plane, handcuffed the individual, and forcibly removed him.


IDF announces humanitarian steps for Gaza, including ‘tactical pauses’
The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday morning announced a series of humanitarian measures aimed at refuting “the false claim of deliberate starvation” in Gaza, including “tactical pauses” in the war on Hamas.

While emphasizing that “combat operations have not ceased” across the Strip, the IDF said pauses in military activities would be instituted in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City “every day until further notice.”

The decision to cease fighting in those areas between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. was coordinated with United Nations officials and other international organizations “following discussions regarding the matter,” it stated.

Humanitarian corridors will be established to enable the movement of U.N. convoys delivering food and medicine to Gazans. The secure aid routes will remain in place permanently between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The IDF added that it was prepared to expand the scale of its humanitarian response in the coastal enclave “as required.”

“What we are doing now is resupplying Hamas. It’s horrible,” Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi told JNS on Sunday. “Nobody should be supplying this neo-Nazi organization. We may not need to cut off aid entirely, but we must impose an effective siege on specific areas of the Gaza Strip.”

Halevi said this would mean relocating all civilians situated north of the Netzarim Corridor to the south, where humanitarian aid would be allowed in, while placing the northern area under total siege.

“That’s the way to fight guerrilla forces in urban areas,” he said. “This is how you wage war. Afterward, we can apply the same strategy to the south and center of Gaza, clearing area after area until we take full control. The only solution—the key to victory—is taking over the Gaza Strip and assuming full responsibility.”

Halevi added, “To defeat the enemy, we need an effective siege—square by square, space by space—and the operation will take much less time.”


Netanyahu: UN is lying about entry of aid to Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday accused the United Nations of lying about the entry of humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, pledging to continue letting minimal aid into the territory.

“We will eliminate Hamas,” he reiterated during a visit to the Ramon Air Force Base in the Negev Desert.

“In order to complete this goal, and also the release of our hostages, we are making progress in fighting and negotiating,” Netanyahu said. “In any path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies. We have done this until now.”

The prime minister accused the U.N. of lying about the entry of Israeli aid and making up excuses for not distributing it until now.

“It says we are not allowing humanitarian supplies to enter. It is allowed. There are secured convoys. There have been all along, but today it is official. There will be no more excuses.”

Netanyahu added: “We will continue to fight, we will continue to act until we achieve all of our war goals—until complete victory.”


Two IDF soldiers killed in armored vehicle blast in southern Gaza
Capt. Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, and Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, an officer and a soldier in the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance battalion, were killed in Khan Yunis on Saturday, the IDF said on Monday.

A third soldier, also from the Golani Brigade, was wounded in the same incident.

According to Walla, the two soldiers were killed while in an armored personnel carrier (APC) due to the blast of an improvised explosive device.

Saad's family, members of Israel's Druze community, said in a statement on Saturday, "This evening, our family lost what is most dear to us. With deep sorrow and indescribable pain, we announce the death of our beloved, Captain Amir Abdallah Saad, who fell during his service and a battalion mission in Khan Yunis, Gaza, as part of Operation Swords of Iron."

"Amir is the second fallen soldier from our family in this difficult and accursed war — a cousin of Lt.-Col. Alim Saad, who fell at the beginning of the war. A combat officer, beloved son, brother, and grandson, who went out to defend the state and the people — and did not return.”

Two soldiers injured in separate incident on Sunday
An IDF officer and a reservist NCO were "severely injured" during combat in the southern Gaza Strip earlier on Sunday, the military confirmed.

The officer serves in the 585th Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, and the reservist NCO serves as a tracker in the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade, the military confirmed.

N12 further identified the officer as a Lt.-Col. serving as the battalion commander.

They were evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, the military noted.


Smotrich seizes almost $50m in PA monies for terror victims’ families
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday signed an order to seize an additional 177 million shekels ($48 million) in Palestinian Authority funds and transfer them to the families of terror victims, Israel National News reported.

“Money intended for terrorists will not reach the Palestinian Authority—not as long as I am minister of finance,” Smotrich said in a statement to the outlet. “This is not just our right—it is our moral and national duty,” he added.

“We will continue to deduct, seize and transfer the funds to those who truly deserve them—the families of terror victims,” he said.

According to INN, this is the second month in a row in which the Israeli government has not transferred funds to Ramallah due to the P.A.’s ongoing encouragement of terror through its “pay-for-slay” policy.

Israel collects 600 million to 700 million shekels ($165 million to $192 million) in tax and tariff revenue on behalf of Ramallah every month under the terms of the Oslo Accords, signed with the PLO in 1994.

In July 2018, the Knesset passed a law that would allow the government to withhold the tax funds Jerusalem collects on the P.A.’s behalf in the amount that the P.A. pays to terrorists and their families every month.


Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Rejects False Claims by Former Aid Worker
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has refuted claims aired on BBC on Friday by former GHF aid worker Anthony Aguilar that Israel was committing "war crimes" in Gaza.

The GHF said Aguilar made "false claims with no basis in reality."

"Upon hearing Mr. Aguilar's claims, we immediately launched an investigation. The findings, based on cross-checking the timelines with video clips and on sources on the ground, indicate that these are false claims with no basis in reality."

"It should be emphasized that Mr. Aguilar was employed as a subcontractor and was fired over a month ago for inappropriate behavior. Following the dismissal, we received threats that unless he was reinstated, action would be taken against us, raising questions regarding the motivation behind his interviews."

"We continue to focus on our core mission: to provide food to the residents of Gaza - safely, directly and without interruption, as we have been doing since the beginning of operations on May 27."

"Since then, we have distributed more than 92 million rations to the Palestinian residents of Gaza."
'I saw something different': IDF reservist refutes intl. claims of intentional starvation
That frustration peaked on July 20, when international headlines reported that Israeli troops had opened fire on civilians waiting for food. “Y” says he was there and that nothing about that morning resembled the story broadcast to the world.

According to his account, the incident began the night before. On July 19, around 10 p.m., eight to ten aid trucks arrived at the site. The delivery was standard procedure, meant to prepare for morning distribution. But soon after, a crowd began to approach.

“They weren’t supposed to be there. It was closed. They saw the trucks and came to loot,” he says. “We fired warning shots. No one was hurt. They left, for the time being.”

The army had posted the opening times on Palestinian Facebook groups. Drones circled overhead, broadcasting in Arabic: “The site will open at 9 a.m. Do not approach.” “Y” says the instructions were clear, constant, and public.

Around 2 a.m., a small team was sent to a forward position one kilometer from the corridor, at a junction of several dirt paths. Their role was to intercept any suspicious movement before it reached the aid zone.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., four Gazan men came into view. Voices echoed in the dark. Then came chants of “Allahu Akbar.”

“That’s when it became obvious; this wasn’t just a spontaneous crowd,” he says. “It was coordinated.”

The four Gazan men emerged from behind a building. A warning shot was fired ten meters in front of them. They kept running. “Then four became a hundred. Then a thousand. All adult men. No women. No children. Just men running straight at us.”

The soldiers were surrounded on three sides, with the food trucks behind them. “We heard Kalashnikov fire from behind the crowd. We didn’t see who fired it, but we heard it clearly,” he says.

With the mass approaching within 100 meters, a standing order was given: defend the position. “Nothing stopped them, not the drones, not the megaphones, not flash grenades or warning shots. In the end, we fired. There was no other choice.”

“Hamas had two goals,” he says. “Steal the food and provoke a tragedy they could film.” According to “Y,” the same group had tried to storm the site at 10 p.m. and again at 2 a.m. “They came back stronger. More people. More vehicles. Gunfire behind them. They knew what they were doing.”

“Y” describes intense restrictions placed on Israeli soldiers guarding the corridor. “We weren’t allowed to engage unless it was life-threatening. That’s how Hamas exploited it. They knew we had limits. They sent the crowd ahead like a shield. And when things exploded, the cameras were already rolling.”

The moral complexity, he says, is unbearable. “We had to choose between protecting the mission and being slaughtered on a rooftop. And then we get called war criminals.”

What angers him most is how quickly the story was rewritten. “By midday, headlines were saying we shot starving civilians. That’s not what happened. It wasn’t a line for food. It was a violent attempt to overrun the corridor.”
USAID Dismisses Mountain of Evidence Showing Hamas Steals Humanitarian Aid
A deeply flawed U.S. government analysis, published by Reuters on Friday, astonishingly concluded there was no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies.

This analysis conspicuously ignored a mountain of evidence demonstrating systematic aid theft by Hamas.

The U.S. study relied entirely on self-reporting from aid organizations operating in what analysts describe as a "mafia-like" environment controlled by Hamas through violence and intimidation.

"No organization wants to admit it handed over some aid to terrorists or mafia gunmen," noted a Jerusalem Post analysis in May. "The organizations also know if they condemn Hamas, then they could be in danger."

"They [Hamas] live on the aid...they want aid to come in through the United Nations and international organizations so they can steal it," one Gaza resident told an IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) officer in May.

A civilian employed by World Central Kitchen confirmed: "When the supplies arrive, they try to steal."

David Mencer, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, said: "Israel facilitates thousands of aid trucks into Gaza, but we know from multiple intelligence and international sources that Hamas diverts between 30% and 50% of that aid for its own use."

"They steal food, fuel, and medicine meant for civilians, hoard it in their tunnels, and sell it on the black market to fund their war machine."


Ask Haviv Anything: Episode 31: The century-old harbinger of October 7, a conversation with Yardena Schwartz
Welcome to a special episode of Ask Haviv Anything. This episode was a live conversation with author Yardena Schwartz taped last week at Martha's Vineyard and hosted by Chabad on the Vineyard.

Please note: Patreon subscribers have asked us to address the dramatic pivot in the IDF's strategy in Gaza and the question of widespread hunger there. We're now working on such an episode to provide an analysis and overview of what's happening and what it means. As always, if you have suggestions for topics, please join our Patreon at / askhavivanything

The conversation with Yardena covers her book Ghosts of a Holy War about the 1929 Hebron massacre. We discuss the events of that year, what it tells us about the next century of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, and the startling parallels to October 7.

This episode's sponsor asked to remain anonymous but dedicated the episode to his Slovak Jewish Holocaust-survivor grandparents who survived Auschwitz, Mauthausen and other camps and moved to Israel at the founding of the state.


Palestinian activist says what no one DARES say about Hamas and Abbas
Israeli innovation envoy Fleur Hassan-Nahoum sits down with Samer Sinijlawi, a Fatah activist and political reformer, who has become a prominent voice advocating for change in Palestinian society.

Samer shares his personal journey, from growing up in Jerusalem to becoming a key figure in the dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis. He discusses the frustrations with current leadership, including President Abbas, and the need for a new, accountable leadership that prioritizes peace, prosperity and real change. He reveals how Palestinians, particularly the younger generation, are pushing for a shift away from the divisive and ineffective politics of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Throughout the conversation, Samer explains his efforts to bridge gaps with Israelis, his call for leadership reform, and his bold stance against violence, even while confronting the harsh realities of ongoing conflict. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each side's fears and needs, advocating for mutual respect and a focus on constructive solutions. Samer's message is one of hope, calling for the Palestinians to take responsibility and make the internal changes necessary to secure a peaceful future.


Israel's "genocide" CRITICS ARE WRONG! Expert drops BOMBSHELL proof (w/Eness Elias)
The media’s got it all wrong! On this episode, we’ll take you through the latest report debunking the widely spread accusations against Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Join Danny Seaman, former senior official at Israel's Prime Minister's Office, for a deep dive into the complex and controversial issues surrounding the Gaza war and international perceptions of Israel.

Joining him is Eness Elias, columnist for “Israel Hayom”, who elaborates on the report and its critical examination of the role human rights organizations and the international community play in perpetuating a skewed narrative. Together, they unpack how much of the discourse around Gaza and Israel is based on biased information, often ignoring key facts and context.

Seaman also reflects on the broader implications of these issues, including the manipulation of global media by groups like Hamas and the need for a stronger, fact-based approach in addressing the Middle East's complex conflicts. With personal insight into Israel's security challenges and the ongoing struggle against terrorist regimes, Danny Seaman brings a powerful, straight-to-the-point perspective on why the international community's response to Israel's defense efforts is both misleading and unjust.

Also discussed:
Human rights organizations' failure to report facts
Media manipulation by Hamas and other jihadist groups
The need for a new discourse around Israel's security
The reality of urban warfare and its challenges
The ongoing struggle for peace and security in the Middle East

Chapters
00:00 Coldplayed: The New Slang and Its Implications
02:54 The Illusion of Peace: Historical Contexts
05:45 Debunking Genocide Allegations: Insights from the BESA Center
09:09 The Role of Human Rights Organizations in Conflict Reporting
12:00 The Complexity of Urban Warfare and Civilian Impact
14:56 The Reality of War: Understanding Hamas and Its Tactics
17:52 The Misconceptions of Starvation and Humanitarian Aid
21:08 The Nature of Peace: A Realistic Perspective
24:04 The Future of Israel: Strength and Resilience
27:08 Post-Colonial Discourse: A New Language for Understanding




Yad Vashem rejects embargo call by chair of German affiliate
Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Center and Museum in Jerusalem, has distanced itself from a call for an arms embargo against Israel made last week by the honorary chair of the board of trustees of the Friends of Yad Vashem in Germany association.

What the honorary chairman, Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, wrote “does not reflect the position of the Friends of Yad Vashem association, and it certainly was not written with their consent nor the consent of Yad Vashem,” a spokesperson for Yad Vashem in Jerusalem told JNS. “The members of Friends of Yad Vashem are among the staunchest supporters of Israel in Germany.”

Casdorff wrote in an op-ed published in the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Wednesday: “There should be a moratorium on deliveries [of arms] like spare parts for battle tanks and artillery ammunition” from Germany to Israel, because “Anyone supplying weapons must be able to be absolutely certain that they will not be used in violation of law and morality.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza “is catastrophic,” and while the “German government is not the sole decisive voice in Europe or the world, it is a decisive one. It must help pave the way to a ceasefire, to peace,” Casdorff wrote.

He also suggested that because Nazi Germany and its helpers murdered six million Jews, modern Germany should stop sending weapons to Israel.

Germany’s “historical responsibility,” which is evident in the “Holocaust Memorial for the six million murdered Jews” [Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe] makes it “important to be consistent with the values that have been achieved,” he wrote.

Casdorff, 66, was the editor of the Berlin-based Tagesspiegel from 2018 to 2024, and is currently editor-at-large at the daily.

Gady Gronich, the Munich-based CEO of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), told JNS that the text “raises questions as to the suitability of Mr. Casdorff to be affiliated with Yad Vashem.”


Twenty-one per cent of young Britons say Israel does not have right to exist
Twenty-one per cent of Britons aged 18-24 say Israel does not have the right to exist, according to a recent Sunday Times Poll.

A study examining British attitudes towards immigration, Israel and the UK’s standing as a global power revealed on Saturday that British support for Palestine is at an all-time high since October 7, particularly among the younger demographic, who were also more likely to acknowledge anti-Jewish views than the older age brackets.

The top words used by Britons to describe the world in 2025 were “chaotic” and “dangerous” according to the poll by think tank More in Common, which recently surveyed over 2,000 British people on a variety of national and global issues, including attitudes towards the Israel-Palestine conflict and its repercussions in the UK.

A quarter of Britons said the UK was unsafe for British Jews, and 10 per cent said they had a negative opinion about Jewish people, with younger demographics proving more likely to admit to anti-Jewish views.

While support for Israel varied by age, those in the 18-24 age group were especially likely to express sympathy for Palestine (45 per cent). Overall, 29 per cent of those polled said they sympathised more with the Palestinian side, compared with 27 per cent who sympathised with neither, 16 per cent who supported both sides equally, 15 per cent who sided with Israel and 14 per cent who did not know.

When asked whether Israel’s military response in Gaza had been proportionate to the Hamas attack on October 7, nearly half of those surveyed said it had been disproportionate. Twenty-eight per cent thought that it had been proportionate and 24 per cent said they did not know.

The poll also showed that while half of Britons did not believe Hamas represented the view of ordinary Palestinians, the number of those who did (16 per cent) had increased by three points since October 2023.


Gaza flotilla seized by IDF towed to Ashdod, activists taken into custody upon entry
Israeli forces brought Handala, the latest aid flotilla to attempt to breach the IDF blockade of the Gaza Strip, into the port of Ashdod on Sunday, after seizing the vessel in international waters and detaining the crew.

Activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had attempted to breach the naval blockade and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory’s Palestinian residents, but were intercepted late Saturday and taken to Israel.

The Israeli legal rights group Adalah told AFP Sunday that its lawyers were in Ashdod and had demanded to speak to the 21-member international crew, among whom were two French parliamentarians and two Al Jazeera journalists.

“After 12 hours at sea, following the unlawful interception of the Handala, Israeli authorities confirmed the vessel’s arrival at Ashdod port,” said the group, which campaigns for the rights of Israel’s Arab population.

“The activists aboard the Handala were part of a peaceful civilian mission to break through Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza,” it said.

“The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law,” Adalah added. “Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing.”

After several hours of campaigning, Adalah said Sunday afternoon that Israeli authorities allowed lawyers to meet with the detained activists.

“Following persistent demands, Adalah’s lawyers are now meeting with 19 of the detained volunteers at Ashdod Port to provide legal consultation,” the group said. “The remaining two activists, Bob Suberi and Huwaida Arraf, both dual Israeli and US citizens, have been transferred to the police, where an Adalah lawyer is also present to provide legal support.”

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry said the Navy stopped the Handala to prevent it from entering the coastal waters off the territory of Gaza.

“The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe,” it said.

The IDF, in response to an earlier query about the ship, said it was “enforcing the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip.”


Houthis vow to target all ships linked to Israel 'regardless of nationality'
Yemen's Houthis will begin targeting any ships it can reach that deal with Israel, regardless of the company's nationality, the terrorist organization said in a statement Sunday night.

The Houthis stated that all countries who want to avoid escalation should "pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip. There is no free person on this earth who can accept what is happening."

In their statement, the Houthis wrote that the group had a "religious, moral, and humanitarian responsibility" toward the people of Gaza, and that the conditions Palestinians face would be "unacceptable to any human being, let alone Arabs and Muslims."

"The actions of the Yemeni Armed Forces express our moral and humanitarian commitment to the injustice against the brotherly Palestinian people, and all our military operations will cease immediately upon the cessation of aggression against Gaza and the lifting of the blockade," the statement concluded.


Tehran's Infrastructure to Finish a Bomb Is Shattered
There's growing evidence that Iran's nuclear program suffered such severe damage that it will be neutered for at least a year, and probably far longer. "Iran is no longer a threshold nuclear state," one well-informed Israeli source told me. He said that Iran would now require at least one to two years to build a deliverable nuclear weapon, assuming it could somehow hide its activities.

Israeli and American sources said the bombing campaign, in addition to destroying many of the Iranian centrifuges that enrich uranium, shattered most elements of Iran's aggressive program to prepare to weaponize that uranium.

The most devastating aspect of Israel's campaign may have been its targeting of Iran's leading nuclear scientists. Sources said strikes in the first hours of the war killed all of Iran's first and second tier of physicists and other nuclear scientists, as well as most of the third tier. That's a massive loss of talent, and Israeli officials believe it will deter younger Iranian scientists from participating in a program that proved to be a death sentence.

An Israeli source said strikes buried a site where Iran had hidden 400 kg. of highly enriched uranium. Israeli attacks also destroyed logistical foundations of the nuclear program, including its headquarters, archives, laboratories and testing equipment.
Israeli F-16I Navigator Discusses Striking Iran
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is in the midst of one of the fiercest operational tempos in its history. In addition to bombing Gaza, the IAF has attacked targets in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and has executed a high-risk air war against Iran after decades of planning. We talked in-depth to one of the IAF's most experienced F-16I navigators about what it's like to fly and fight in the highly customized Israel-specific variant of the F-16.

Lt.-Col. I., a Druze aviator, said, "The F-16I is more likely to be the plane that goes as far as possible, because we have extra fuel tanks." The F-16I has different equipment than other variants of the F-16, "like long-range missiles, weapons or smart bombs."

"The planes actually talk to each other....We can see the information inside the other planes without even the need to talk to each other....We can see on the map all the details that the other planes in our formation do, like if they lock on the target. I can see that he locked on a target. So I can take the other target that my wingman didn't."

The navigator is a weapon systems operator. "If it's an attack mission, most of the crucial decisions are made by the navigator. I choose the target, I lock on it, I see in my formation which is the better way to attack the target, and I decide how we do this. If it's an air-to-air mission against aircraft or other missions that don't include a ground attack, the pilot is the mission commander....The navigator is also responsible for the defense of each aircraft and the formation and for operating the weapons - the missiles and the bombs."

The F-35s "gave us a lot of information that other planes like the F-16I don't have. They have a lot of equipment that helps them determine which missiles are heading towards us....[We] let the F-35 go first, see what's going on, gather the intelligence and information and give it to us and to the other planes, and then we take this information and attack."

He took part in the Iran mission. "After we landed from the first mission, we were very pleased with the outcome. We didn't expect this kind of success....This mission is exactly an example of the Israeli Air Force's ability to take a mission and, with precision and strategic depth, execute it at a very high level....Just as we headed back west and we saw all the other planes that were coming from Israel, that feeling was unbelievable, a feeling of success and power, that we are doing something historical."

"They didn't fire a single anti-aircraft missile towards us in the whole war. They did against drones, but against jet pilots, not even once....We had a belief that we were going to come back from the flight and we will see our base bombed already. But nothing happened."
Israel’s defense minister warns Ayatollah Khamenei he’s next
Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking while visiting the Ramon Air Force Base in the Negev desert with Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the commander of the Israel Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, on Sunday.

“I want to send a clear message to the dictator Khamenei: If you continue to threaten Israel, our long hand will reach Tehran again and with even greater powers, and this time to you personally. Don’t threaten lest you get hurt,” Katz said.

Katz thanked the Air Force personnel at the base for their work during “Operation Rising Lion,” the 12-day mission to destroy Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile facilities last month.

“You opened the skies to Tehran and repeatedly hit the head of the Iranian octopus and removed annihilationist threats against the State of Israel,” he said.

On July 16, Khamenei warned that Iran is ready to respond to any renewed military action against it.

The Islamic Republic “not only does not fear America—it instills fear in it,” the ayatollah declared in his second public appearance since the June 13-24 war with Israel.

“Although we consider the Zionist regime a cancer and the U.S. a criminal due to its support of that regime, we did not seek war,” he said. “Yet whenever the enemy attacked, our response was forceful and firm.”

Although Israel’s opening strike against the Islamic Republic wiped out Tehran’s top military command, including its chief of staff, and Israel went on to rapidly attain aerial superiority, Khamenei insisted Israel had been “brought to its knees” and “desperately turned to the U.S.” to strike the regime’s key nuclear facilities on June 22, referring to “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the U.S. bombing of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.


Auschwitz ‘my 0% unemployment plan,’ GOP California gov hopeful says
Kyle Langford, a Republican candidate in the 2026 California gubernatorial election, doubled down on saying that Auschwitz presents a model for eliminating unemployment after drawing a rebuke from the official Auschwitz memorial.

“My 0% unemployment plan,” he wrote on July 25.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum said that “the instrumentalization of the tragedy of all those imprisoned and murdered in the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz for political messaging is a profound moral failure.”

“Auschwitz is not a prop,” it added. “Kyle Langford, your post is an affront to the dignity of the victims and a disturbing display of insensitivity and disregard to horrifying human history.”

Langford has said that “Jews need to become Catholic, worship Jesus Christ and abandon the State of Israel” and that “Jews should use U.S. Customs and Border Protection home app and self deport to Israel today.”

He has also said that “the United States should perform regime change in Israel for a more favorable government, while also dismantling their intelligence agencies.”

In response to a social media user, he said of his Auschwitz unemployment statement that “I wasn’t joking. I think it is exactly what is needed to stabilize California and keep people safe.”

He also wrote back to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

“My German ancestors smile upon me, and my most sincere of thank you’s for the massive shoutout, Auschwitz Museum,” he wrote.

Polling released earlier this month suggests he is trailing well behind the other gubernatorial candidates—some 22 percentage points behind former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Even among Republican voters, the poll only projects he would beat Harris (3%) by two percentage points (5%).
Dutch gardening company refuses shul service over Gaza war
A gardening company in The Hague, the Netherlands, refused to carry out work for the city’s Reform Jewish community due to the war in the Gaza Strip, the Center for Information and Documentation Israel, a Dutch-Jewish group, said on Friday.

“The madness rages on: The Liberal Jewish community in The Hague was told by a gardener that his workers do not wish to carry out tree pruning, because they do not want to work for a Jewish institution due to the situation in Gaza,” the Jewish advocacy group said on X, sharing a anonymized screenshot of the email received by the synagogue.

According to the NGO, the cancellation came three days before the work was supposed to be carried out—after the deal had been sealed.

“Unfortunately, I must inform you that we will not carry out the work,” the email read. “My colleagues indicate that, due to the terrible situation in Gaza, they do not wish to work for a Jewish institution at this time.”

The Hague City Council members of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Christian Union and Reformed Political Party on Saturday urged the municipality to take action against the gardening company.

“Can the municipal executive explain its role in this incident? What prior involvement was there in this contract to prune a monumental tree? What did the municipal executive do after learning of the sudden cancellation of the work and the company’s motivation? How was the Reform Jewish community assisted?” they wrote in formal questions.

“Does the municipal executive agree with the Hague People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy and Christian Union/Reformed Political Party that it is inappropriate to work with with organizations or companies that make such blatantly antisemitic statements?” the parties asked.
Spanish designer refuses to work for singer who didn’t support ‘Palestine’
A Spanish fashion designer’s refusal to design a garment for a singer is the latest episode in a campaign, mainly carried out via social media, to pressure celebrities to speak out against Israel.

Miguel Adrover said he refused to create a design for fellow Spaniard Rosalia Vila Tobella, known as Rosalía, a pop and flamenco singer, for not being sufficiently pro-“Palestine.”

“Doing ‘The Right Thing’… Silence is complicity, and even more so when you have a big microphone where millions of people listen to you when you sing. That’s why you have the responsibility to use this power to denounce this genocide,” Adrover posted to Instagram.

“Rosalia, this is nothing personal. I admire you for all your talent and for everything you’ve achieved. And I think you are much more than those artists who only dedicate themselves to show business and entertainment. Now we have to do ‘The Right Thing,'” he wrote.

The designer attached images of an email exchange between his representatives and those of Rosalía, who had requested a “custom look” for the 32-year-old singer.

“We don’t have any confirmed dates as of yet, but it’s looking likely we will need in Sept/October,” the singer’s representative wrote.

In response, Adrover’s representatives wrote: “I’m sorry, but Miguel doesn’t work with any artist who doesn’t publicly support Palestina.”


Floyd Mayweather to IDF soldiers: You are winners; I'm proud of you
Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated world boxing champion who crafted an extraordinary legacy throughout his career, has returned to Israel once again. As global opinion increasingly criticizes Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, he continues offering his support and encouragement.

"I don't remember anymore how many times I've been in Israel, but it's probably a lot," he laughed in an interview he gave Thursday evening to Israel Today. "It's a beautiful place, with wonderful people. I've always had Israeli friends, and I will continue coming here until my dying day."

Floyd Mayweather, 48, arrived at BAYZ restaurant on Tel Aviv's Hilton Beach to meet with soldiers who have spent recent years in Gaza's alleyways or battles against Hezbollah in Lebanon. As he likes to walk around here, the soldiers showered him with love. "I've been dying over you since childhood. If you're looking for a bodyguard, I'm here," one of them told him.

"These are young fighters," he said when we spoke, "I was a young fighter. I know how it is."

Does war remind you of a boxing match?
"A fighter is a fighter and of course when you fight you want to win and it doesn't always happen, but in boxing there's usually another opportunity. There are many boxers in my company 'Mayweather Promotions,' some win, some lose, but I love them all the same."

In recent years, when we refer to a complete victory, we primarily mean a military victory.
"Everyone wants to win in life, and that's not true only for your country, but for the entire world. Victory is a matter of being positive, humble, respectful, and appreciating what you have."

Mayweather walked around Tel Aviv's seaside, surrounded by heavy security, befitting his status as a mega-celebrity who earned about a billion dollars during his career. He had four American 'refrigerators,' each two meters tall and of similar width, but even the intimidating bodyguards couldn't prevent fans from approaching the legend.

"Know that you are winners," the boxer acknowledged the warm reception. "I'm here to support you, and I will continue coming. I am proud of the State of Israel. Thank you for receiving me."

Mayweather is no longer an active boxer. The man who won every possible title with a record of 50-0 as a professional says he doesn't really miss the days in the ring. "Because it's very different from the period when I boxed," he tried to explain. "But boxing is still boxing."




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This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For 20 years and 40,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.

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