Two staff members from the Israeli Embassy were fatally shot outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, in a violent incident that has sparked a sweeping investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. According to law enforcement officials, a man opened fire outside the museum just after 8 p.m., shouting “Free Palestine!” as he began shooting. The museum was hosting a private event for Israeli diplomats at the time. The gunman was quickly detained by responding officers. The names of the two victims—both employees of the Israeli Embassy—have not yet been publicly released, pending notification of their families. Initial reports also indicated others were injured in the attack, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear.

Israel is preparing for a rapid military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities if ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington fall apart, according to a report by Axios citing two Israeli sources familiar with the matter. According to one source, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is closely watching the diplomatic developments and awaiting the right political moment to act. “Bibi is waiting for the nuclear talks to collapse and for the moment Trump will be disappointed about the negotiations and open to giving him the go-ahead,” the source said, referring to President Donald Trump. The Israeli intelligence community, which once believed a deal was within reach, now reportedly sees the talks nearing collapse.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz made a surprise visit to the Ashdod Naval Base in southern Israel on Wednesday. “I came here from a visit to the Shin Bet headquarters,” Katz said, “and all is Hamas is doing now is sitting and updating targets in yishuvim near the border through sources that provide it with information, like the Iranians and others. It is still busy planning how to continue.” “Therefore, we must win here. There is no entity that cannot be subdued. We must make sure Hamas will not stay here.” During the visit, Katz sailed off the coast of the Gaza Strip and received a briefing on the sailors’ activities during the war. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In an interview with Israel’s N12, recently released hostage Yarden Bibas – whose wife, Shiri, and two sons, Ariel and Kfir hy”d, were murdered in captivity – opened up about the harrowing months he spent in Hamas captivity — and the unbreakable bond he shared with his best friend, David Cunio, who remains a hostage in Gaza to this day. Bibas revealed that during his time in captivity, he came face to face with Yahya Sinwar, the now-dead Hamas leader who orchestrated the October 7 massacre. “Sinwar asked me what he could do for me,” Bibas recounted. “I told him I wanted to stay with David, my best friend. He promised it would be done.” But that promise was short-lived. Just two to three weeks later, the two were forcibly separated.