Democrats chairman Yair Golan on Motzei Shabbos tried to backtrack on the outrageous statements he made last week about IDF soldiers “killing babies as a hobby.” Speaking in an interview with Channel 12, Golan said: “Of course, Israel doesn’t kill babies as a hobby. Israel has not committed war crimes in Gaza.” He excused himself by saying that his statements were directed at the government, claiming that the goal of the war in Gaza is “political.” He then claimed that there is no purpose of the war in Gaza, falsely stating that Hamas has already been “militarily defeated.” The interviewer asked Golan about the harsh statements he himself made following the October 7 assault, when he advocated for starving the residents of Gaza.

In an unusual and serious incident, an IDF soldier was seriously injured on Motzei Shabbos in a fight with another soldier in the northern Gaza Strip. The soldier was evacuated from Gaza by helicopter to the hospital. A preliminary investigation of the incident revealed that it occurred as soldiers from the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion were resting in their compound in the Beit Lahiya area. A fight developed between two soldiers, and one soldier hit the other with a weapon and then beat him with a hot water kettle. The brigade commander interrogated the soldier and suspended him from combat service. A military investigation was launched into the serious incident. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Terrorists from a Hamas terror cell who fired last week at IDF soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip, seriously injuring a tank commander, were eliminated within minutes by the 401st Brigade combat team, the IDF spokesperson said on Sunday. “The forces of the 401st Brigade combat team, under the command of the 162nd Division, are operating in the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” the IDF spokesperson said. “Last week, a tank commander from Battalion 52 was seriously injured during a clash with Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman No, this is not an article about President Trump and or ICE deporting minorities from Latin America.

A newly released poll conducted by co/efficient shows Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik in a near tie with Democratic incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul in a hypothetical race for New York governor in 2026. The survey of likely voters indicates Hochul leading Stefanik 43% to 42%, with 15% of voters undecided. The same poll highlights President Donald Trump’s favorability in New York, where he holds a 44% favorability rating, surpassing Hochul’s net approval rating of -17%. Only 23% of respondents believe Hochul deserves re-election, while nearly two-thirds prefer a new governor, underscoring her vulnerability. Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally representing New York’s 21st Congressional District, has not officially declared her candidacy but has expressed strong interest.

The suspect in Wednesday night’s fatal shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., allegedly authored a manifesto calling for violent attacks against individuals and institutions connected to Israel, declaring nonviolent protest “insufficient” and urging supporters to “escalate for Gaza.” Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, is accused of killing two Israeli embassy staff members as they exited an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Young Diplomats event around 9:00 p.m. Rodriguez shouted “Free, free Palestine” as he was arrested. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed a motive, but a manifesto shared online under Rodriguez’s name appears to outline a premeditated justification for violence.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman When most women (and many men) see a mouse scurrying across the kitchen floor, the typical response is a shriek followed by a jump onto the nearest chair.

The Lakewood community is once again plunged into mourning with the heartbreaking news that Refoel Faham z”l, one of the survivors of Friday morning’s horrific car crash, has tragically succumbed to his injuries. Refoel z”l had been critically injured in the devastating accident that occurred on Hope Chapel Road near New Central Avenue.  Hatzolah paramedics rushed him to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery and received intensive medical care for over 18 hours. Despite the valiant efforts of the medical team, Refoel was niftar shortly before the onset of Shabbos. The accident, which unfolded early Friday morning, involved a Toyota Sienna carrying five bochurim.

An antisemitic poster seen at Humboldt University in Berlin on Friday caused a furor of outrage in Germany, Kan News reported. The poster featured a picture of Yaron Lischinsky, who was murdered last week in the shooting attack outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, with an inverted red triangle – a symbol associated with Hamas supporters – above his head, and the words “Make Zionists Afraid.” Armin Laschet, a senior member of the ruling Christian Democratic party and chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly condemned the incident: “The overt antisemitism at Humboldt University in Berlin is unacceptable. Yaron Lischinsky, who was murdered in New York, was at an event supporting the citizens of Gaza.

A court in El Salvador has granted the request of Israel’s State Prosecution to extradite Lev Tahor leader Elazer Rompler to Israel to face serious charges of child abuse, Kan News reported on Thursday. Rompler, who fled Guatemala after local authorities raided the cult’s complex, was arrested in El Salvador in January as he attempted to enter the country, unaware that an international arrest warrant had been issued against him by Interpol at Israel’s request. Israel filed an extradition request for Rompler to El Salvador in February. Rompler fled Israel in 2020 after being indicted for severe child abuse while serving as a principal of the Lev Tahor school in Canada. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)