Erez Calderon, a 12-year-old former Hamas hostage, made an emotional appeal on Monday for the release of his father, who remains in Hamas captivity. Erez, who was abducted with his father and sister during the October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, posted the video on Instagram, hoping his father, Ofer Calderon, might somehow see it. Speaking directly to the camera, Erez admitted that it was difficult to share his message but insisted, “If it reaches my father, it is worth it.” His plea comes just two months before his bar mitzvah, a milestone he finds impossible to celebrate while his father is still held captive. “I have a clear goal in life — that he return,” Erez said. Ofer Calderon was taken hostage alongside his children during the brutal Hamas attack on their kibbutz.

Hezbollah fired a heavy rocket barrage at the Galil close to noon on Wednesday, triggering red alert sirens in a number of yishuvim. Several rockets scored direct hits in Kiryat Shmona and Dishon, kindling fires and damaging property. Some rockets fell in open areas, sparking fires, and others were intercepted by the Iron Dome. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish fires in several areas in Galil.  (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

An initial IDF investigation into Hamas’s murder of the six hostages in Rafah last week revealed that Hamas lookouts standing outside the tunnel saw IDF forces approaching the area,  prompting the terrorists to murder the hostages and flee the area, Kan News reported on Tuesday evening. According to the report, after the hostages’ bodies were located, the IDF discovered indications at the scene that Hamas lookouts were watching the IDF soldiers in real time. IDF forces operating in Rafah have been careful not to approach areas where live hostages may be held, according to intelligence information transmitted to the forces in real-time. However, in this case, there was no intelligence that hostages were being held in the area.

IDF air defense forces overnight Tuesday intercepted an enemy drone over Jordan headed toward Israel from “the east.” The drone did not cross into Israel and no injuries were reported. The Islamic Resistance terror group in Iraq claimed responsiblity for the launch and said it was directed at the port of Haifa. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Thousands of Satmar Chassidim gathered last Friday to mark the 45th Yahrtzeit of Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l, during which the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, HaRav Aharon Teitelbaum, used the occasion to address a pressing issue facing the kehilla: the skyrocketing housing prices in Kiryas Yoel. In his address, the Rebbe highlighted the severe housing crisis, noting that over the past five years, the cost of housing in Kiryas Yoel has surged dramatically, with the price per square foot shooting up by a staggering increase of 400%. This surge has placed a heavy burden on the kehilla, where large families are struggling to find affordable housing. To combat this crisis, the Rebbe took decisive action by forming a special committee in collaboration with local askanim.

An opinion article by the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board excoriated US President Joe Biden and his administration for placing the blame on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for Hamas’s execution of six hostages. The article also stressed how Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris put immense pressure on Israel, even threatening it with an arms embargo, not to enter Rafah – delaying the operation for months. And of course, that’s exactly where the hostages were found. Hamas probably can’t believe its luck—or the lack of moral seriousness by its enemies. The terrorists murder six Israeli hostages, including one dual-citizen American, and Israel is suddenly under pressure to make concessions—to Hamas.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a press conference on Monday evening and stressed the vital importance of maintaining an Israeli military presence on the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu began by asking forgiveness from the families of the six hostages that “we weren’t able to bring them back alive. We were close but didn’t make it.” Netanyahu continued by saying that the murder of the hostages didn’t happen because Israel decided to maintain a military presence on the Philadelphi Corridor but because “Hamas doesn’t want a deal.” The prime minister, who is known for favoring the use of props during major press conferences, then turned to a map of the Philadelphi Corridor area and explained that  “the road to achieving the goals of the war passes through the Philadelphi Corridor.

As the fall semester commenced at Columbia University on Tuesday, dozens of anti-Israel protesters disrupted the first day of classes, reigniting tensions that plagued the campus during the previous semester. The demonstrators, many carrying signs with slogans like “Resist until victory,” formed a picket line and chanted as they blocked access to the Ivy League school in Morningside Heights, forcing students to wait in long lines to pass through security at the university’s main entrance at Broadway and West 116th Street.

On Monday, a large crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters, estimated to be around 7,000, marched through Manhattan, causing disruptions and clashing with police. The demonstration, which began at Union Square and ended at Washington Square Park, featured protesters waving flags of Hamas and Hezbollah, both designated foreign terrorist organizations by the US. The protesters, who lit flares and set off smoke bombs, chanted “Free Palestine!” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.” Four arrests were made during the march, with NYPD officers shoved aside while attempting to stop the protest. The White House condemned the flying of Hamas flags, citing the recent murder of six hostages in Gaza, including a US citizen.

The Justice Department announced criminal charges Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other terrorists in connection with the Oct. 7, 2023, rampage in Israel. The criminal complaint filed in federal court in New York City includes charges of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. “The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a video statement. “These actions will not be our last.” Sinwar was appointed the overall head of Hamas after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and sits atop Israel’s most-wanted list.