Democrats Party chairman and former IDF Chief of Staff Yair Golan sparked nationwide outrage on Tuesday over outrageous and false statements he made in an interview. Speaking on Kan Reshet Bet, Golan said: “Israel is on its way to becoming a pariah state among nations, like the South Africa of the past, if we don’t go back to acting like a sane country.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced Monday their intention to enforce a so-called “naval blockade” on Israel’s Haifa Port, declaring that all vessels en route to the port are now considered legitimate targets. In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree warned, “All companies with ships present in or heading to this port are hereby notified that, as of the time of this announcement, the aforementioned port has been included in the target bank.” While the group has made similar threats before — including a recent declaration of a blockade on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport — their actual capacity to follow through remains limited.

Since Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was eliminated by Israel, his brother, Mohamed, has been the most hawkish terror leader in the Strip, the one refusing any hostage release deal that didn’t include ending the war. It was only intense US pressure, combined with the unusual direct talks between Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Hamas officials, that led to the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. A day later, Sinwar convened a meeting of the military wing’s top brass in the underground complex beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Walla reported. The complex includes a conference room and command center, from where Sinwar managed the war since his brother was eliminated.

President Donald Trump on Monday questioned the timeline and transparency surrounding Joe Biden’s newly revealed cancer diagnosis, implying that the former president’s aggressive prostate cancer may have been hidden from the public for political reasons. The remarks came just a day after Biden’s office confirmed he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer — a disclosure that sent shockwaves through the political world and triggered a wave of well-wishes, including from Trump himself. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump wrote in a public statement Sunday. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.” But by Monday, Trump’s tone shifted.

A serious kashrus concern has emerged in Houston, and travelers — particularly those attending conventions, conferences, or receiving airline-style meals — are urged to exercise extreme caution. A restaurant previously known as Genesis Steakhouse and now as Exodus Bar & Grill, is reportedly distributing food with misleading “kosher” labeling, despite no longer being under any kosher certification and now operating as a fully non-kosher establishment. The restaurant in question was previously certified by the Houston Kashruth Association (HKA), but the certification was terminated following kashrus violations, according to individuals familiar with the matter.

Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, President Donald Trump said Monday after separate calls with the leaders of both countries meant to spur progress toward ending the three-year war. The conversations did not appear to yield a major breakthrough. It was not clear when or where any talks might take place or who would participate. Trump’s announcement came days after the first direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since 2022. Those negotiations on Friday in Turkey brought about a limited exchange of prisoners but no pause in the fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp rebuke to European leaders on Monday, accusing them of rewarding Hamas’ October 7 attack by demanding an end to Israel’s defensive war and pushing for a Palestinian state. In a statement, Netanyahu outlined Israel’s position, emphasizing the need for Hamas’ destruction and Gaza’s demilitarization while aligning with President Trump’s vision for peace. “By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities,” Netanyahu said.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee spoke on Monday at the 17th Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress in Jerusalem. “I hear people saying often that Israel is facing a seven-front war,” Huckabee began. I beg to differ,” he emphasized. “Well, there may be seven different servers [waiters] coming out of the kitchen, all bringing a different plate, some named Hamas, some Hezbollah, and some Houthi. Just remember one thing. All of the plates came from the very same kitchen —Tehran.” “Tehran is the chef, it is the server, it is the one that brings the poison to all the rest of the world. If we ever forget who our real enemy is – it will be a fatal mistake.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

  The IDF has released the name of a soldier who was killed in Northern Gaza: Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak, 22, from Harasha, who was in the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, 401st “Iron Trails”. His family has been notified. The IDF is investigating the cause of Chirak’s death, including the possibility of “friendly fire”.

Photos of the personnel from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation [GHF], the US organization that will distribute humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, were revealed by Ynet on Monday for the first time. It should be noted that the GHF is not yet prepared to begin distributing aid to Gaza, and therefore, the aid that was brought into Gaza on Monday following the decision of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is being distributed by the UN and other international organizations. The photos revealed by Ynet show the US personnel receiving bulletproof vests and weapons and being briefed on their mission.