Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas on Friday evening, demanding the terror group accept the ceasefire arrangement brokered by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff—or face complete destruction.
“The IDF continues its operations in Gaza with full force, striking and dismantling Hamas strongholds while evacuating the local population from all combat zones and attacking the area from the air, land, and sea on an unprecedented scale to provide maximum protection for our soldiers ahead of the entry of maneuvering forces into every area and during the maneuver,” said Katz.

President Donald Trump stated on Friday that discussions surrounding a potential truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza are advancing, and he anticipates a formal update might be released either later in the day or by Shabbos.
Trump further noted that negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program also appear to be progressing.
“They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow, and I think we have a chance of making a deal with Iran. They don’t want to be blown up, they would rather make a deal, and I think that could happen in the not too distant future,” he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for children, no longer urging universal vaccination for all minors. Instead, the agency now says that kids without preexisting conditions may receive the vaccine, depending on physician judgment and parental choice.
This policy shift was reflected in the CDC’s newly published childhood immunization schedule on Thursday. It follows a recent announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who declared earlier in the week that the CDC would end its recommendation of COVID-19 shots for both healthy children and expectant mothers who are not considered at risk.

Elon Musk surprised reporters at the White House on Friday when he appeared at an Oval Office event with a noticeable black eye, marking the conclusion of his 130-day stint in the Trump administration.
“I’ve got a little shiner here,” said the 53-year-old after President Trump fielded a question from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy about “the first lady of France slapping her husband, Emmanuel Macron.”
“I wasn’t anywhere near France,” Musk joked. “I was just horsing around with Little X, and I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face,’ and he did.”

“Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face … ” he started to say, before cutting himself off.

President Trump lashed out at China on Friday, accusing the country of breaking the trade agreement the two nations reached just weeks ago.
The deal, announced on May 12 after negotiations in Switzerland, had called for a 90-day easing of tariffs while both sides continued talks. Under the terms of the agreement, the United States reduced its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, moving away from what had effectively been a trade blockade.
But signs of trouble began to emerge this week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday night that discussions had become “a bit stalled,” and on Friday morning, Trump publicly blasted China for violating the terms of the deal.

At a pre-Shavuos gathering in Ra’anana, the noted posek and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, delivered powerful words of chizuk to a group of Brazilian olim, expressing wonder and gratitude over the miraculous survival of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisroel despite overwhelming odds.
The remarks were delivered following Rav Zilberstein’s regular Thursday evening shiur for doctors from hospitals across the country, held at Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak.

In a BBC interview on Friday, United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher walked back a previous assertion that 14,000 infants in Gaza might perish within 48 hours if aid didn’t reach them—a statement the UN later officially rescinded.
Fletcher conceded that the original comments lacked the necessary precision. “We were desperately trying to get that aid in,” he explained, acknowledging the urgency of the situation at the time.
“We were being told we couldn’t get it in, and we knew that we’d probably have a couple of days, a window to get as much aid in as possible, and that was being denied, and we were desperate to get that in. And so yes, we’ve got to be utterly precise with our language, and we’ve clarified that,” Fletcher said.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu underwent a scheduled colonoscopy on Friday morning at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim.
His office later issued a statement confirming that the procedure had gone smoothly. Netanyahu expressed gratitude to the medical professionals involved in the exam, naming Professor Eran Goldin, Professor Yaakov Gozal, Dr. Ariel Benson, and nurse Galit Peres for their care.
The Prime Minister’s personal doctor, Dr. Herman Berkovitz, was also present during the examination to oversee the process.

Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen are reportedly planning to intensify their offensive operations against Israel, with a new focus on targeting civilian aircraft such as those operated by El Al and other Israeli airlines. This development was reported Friday by Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper, which cited unnamed members of the Houthi group.

Israel has issued a forceful response to French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state” after he called on European nations to take a firmer line against Israel if the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not addressed.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry denounced Macron’s remarks, particularly rejecting the claim that Israel is imposing a humanitarian blockade. The ministry labeled the allegation “a blatant lie” and insisted that Israel is actively working to provide humanitarian assistance while ensuring it does not fall into the hands of Hamas.