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.

A group of 11 independent United Nations human rights experts has expressed deep concern over a significant increase in executions in Iran, with at least 81 people put to death in August alone. This brings the total number of executions in the country to over 400 since the start of 2024, including 15 women. The experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, noted that 41 of the executions in August were for drug offenses, which they say violates international standards. They also highlighted a substantial rise in drug-related executions in Iran since 2021, with over 400 such executions carried out last year. Iran has the second-highest number of executions per year, after China, according to rights groups like Amnesty International.

Chief Rabbi of the UK Rav Ephraim Mirvis slammed the British government following its announcement that it is suspending 30 arms export licenses to Israel.

The incitement in Israel against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has reached new heights in recent days, with left-wing provocateurs repeatedly calling him a “murderer” in the wake of the executions of the six hostages in Gaza last week. Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf complained about the incitement in the Cabinet meeting this week, saying that people who call Netanyahu a murderer should be imprisoned. He also slammed opposition leader Yair Lapid who claimed that Netanyahu was responsible for the murders. National Unity chairman Benny Gantz spoke at the Israel Bar Association in Tel Aviv on Tuesday and referred to the incitement against Netanyahu. “I would like to state the obvious here – Netanyahu is not a murderer and I condemn the incitement against him,” he said.

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) has revoked its permission for a pro-Hamas rally that was scheduled to take place on October 7, the anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack across southern Israel last year, which claimed 1,200 lives. The rally, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), had initially been approved by the university in August, sparking significant backlash from the Jewish community on campus. The event’s approval led to widespread protests, with groups such as Maryland Hillel urging the university to reconsider, arguing that the rally could be seen as a celebration of anti-Jewish violence.

YWN regrets to inform you of the petirah of R’ Yisroel Schenkowleski z”l, one of Lakewood’s earliest and most prolific askanim, who helped set the foundation for the town to become a thriving makom torah. He was 80 years old. In addition to his work with the local, county, state and federal governments for more than 40 years, R’ Yisroel was also a key factor behind the growth of Torah in the township, including by founding the Bais Kaila girls school. The levaya is scheduled to take place at 4:30 PM on Tuesday afternoon at BMG’s Bais Yitzchok bais medrash, with kevurah in Eretz Yisroel. THE FOLLOWING IS VIA LAKEWOOD ALERTS R’ Yisroel’s tireless efforts touched every aspect of the community, from education to emergency services, law enforcement, and government.

Eli Goldschmidt, who served as a Knesset member for the Labor Party and One Israel from 1992-2001, called on the opponents of the current government to take stock and reflect on their part in Israel’s failure to reach a hostage deal with Hamas. “We and our side are also to blame for the fact that the hostages haven’t yet returned home,” Goldschmidt said. He then clarified that he does partially blame Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for the fact that Hamas has not agreed to a deal but claimed that it’s only because of his right-wing partners Betzalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. “First and foremost Bibi, Smotrich and of course, Sinwar are to blame for the fact that there is no hostage deal.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces, in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), captured an ISIS leader who played a key role in aiding the escape of terror group members from a detention facility in Syria. The ISIS leader, identified as Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal, was apprehended on Sunday, just days after five ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees broke out from the Raqqah Detention Facility. According to CENTCOM, two of the escapees were recaptured by the SDF, while three others remain at large. Al-Dandal was identified as a “facilitator” who was instrumental in assisting the escaped ISIS fighters. Currently, more than 9,000 ISIS detainees are held across over 20 SDF-operated detention facilities in Syria.

A former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was charged Tuesday with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, federal prosecutors revealed in a sprawling indictment. Linda Sun, who held numerous posts in New York state government before rising to the rank of deputy chief of staff for Hochul, was arrested Tuesday morning along with her husband at their $3.5 million home on Long Island. Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, are expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn said. A lawyer for Sun, Seth DuCharme, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The FBI searched the couple’s $3.5 million home in Manhasset late July but declined to release further details at the time.