Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your tireless efforts over the past year and a half in working to secure the release of our precious hostages. We are aware of the countless hours and sleepless nights you dedicated to this critical endeavor, and we recognize how deeply you cared about this cause. Therefore, it was disheartening to hear the speeches of some released hostages and their families, listing individuals and groups to thank, yet omitting your name. It felt like a personal blow, a knife twisting in my heart. How could they not fully appreciate the extent of your behind-the-scenes efforts and the significant role you played in their liberation? It’s undeniable that your leadership was instrumental in securing their release.

A new study reveals that The New York Times consistently downplayed Israeli suffering following Hamas’s October 7 attack while disproportionately focusing on Palestinian casualties, often omitting key facts that would provide readers with a fuller picture of the conflict. The study, conducted by Yale professor Edieal Pinker, analyzed 1,561 New York Times articles published between October 7, 2023, and June 7, 2024. It found that coverage overwhelmingly portrayed Israel as the aggressor and largely ignored ongoing Hamas attacks and Israeli casualties during the war.

Eyal Eshel, the father of the surveillance soldier Roni Eshel, H’yd, who was murdered at the Nachal Oz base on October 7, told Ynet that two weeks before the attack, Hamas terrorists held up a sign with the words “Mazal Tov” to one of the soldiers whose birthday was that day. She was later murdered in the massacre. The surveillance soldiers reported the incident to their commanders, but according to Eshel, nothing was done. “This is one of many stories we’ve become aware of, and it’s one of the most shocking stories we’ve heard,” he said. “Hamas terrorists stood on the other side of the fence with a banner. We were horrified. They knew about her birthday, they knew the phone numbers of IDF officers and the license plates of IDF vehicles.

Arkia Airlines inaugurated its direct route to New York on Saturday night, breaking El Al’s long-standing exclusivity on the route. The first flight, operated by an Airbus A330-900 NEO leased from Spanish-Portuguese carrier Iberojet, departed from Ben Gurion Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport following a celebratory launch ceremony. The milestone comes as Israel’s aviation sector continues its post-war recovery. United Airlines is set to resume flights to Israel next month, followed by Delta Airlines in April, marking the return of major U.S. carriers that suspended operations following the outbreak of war in October 2023. Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz emphasized the airline’s long-term commitment to the route.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday was forced to spend another day at the Tel Aviv District Court after last week’s hearings were canceled due to his visit to Washington. As the hearing progressed and the allegations against the prime minister proved to be completely baseless once again, Netanyahu angrily addressed the prosecution: “You’ve dragged me into this hell for eight years with your nonsense. Aren’t you ashamed? You fabricated these cases from beginning to end!” It should be noted that the cases against Netanyahu have fallen apart to the point that the chief prosecutor involved in the cases recently resigned from the position.

Hamas’ military wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, announced on Monday that the terrorist group would postpone the planned release of hostages, claiming that Israel had violated the terms of the agreement. The next release of hostages, is set to take place this coming Shabbos, The delay comes as Israel prepares to enter the second phase of the deal, which is set to take effect after the initial phase concludes later this month. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A major security breach occurred during the Super Bowl halftime show when a protester stormed the half-time performance stage carrying a flag combining Palestinian and Sudanese colors with the words “Gaza” and “Sudan” printed on it. The disruption happened during Kendrick Lamar’s performance, as the protester jumped onto a car used in the act and sprinted across the stadium, momentarily drawing attention away from the show. Security personnel quickly intervened, with three guards tackling the protester and dragging him off the field as he refused to stand. Video footage shows the individual being removed from the stadium on his knees. The NFL later confirmed that the individual was a member of the 400-person field cast for Lamar’s performance.

The Trump administration has demanded that the Palestinian Authority end its notorious “pay to slay” stipends, which incite terror by financially supporting terrorists in Israeli prisons and the families of terrorists who committed suicide or were killed in the act of carrying out terror attacks against Israelis, including the Nukhba terrorists who carried out the October 7 massacre. When ex-President Joe Biden entered office, he restored funding to the Palestinian Authority terror group, despite being well aware of its “pay to slay” payments, which includes terrorists who murdered US citizens. Biden took the step despite the fact that the funding violated US law, specifically the 2018 Taylor Force Act, which bans all US aid to the PA as long as it continues to fund terrorists.

Yechiel Yehud, the father of Arbel Yehud, who was released from captivity about a week and a half ago along with Gadi Mozes and Agam Berger, read a message from his daughter in a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. “I learned Arabic within a month and I heard my captors express joy over the friction among Israelis regarding the question of releasing the hostages,” Yehud stated. “I thought they were using psychological terror on me when they said the issue of the hostages had become a political debate.

Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, who were released on Shabbos from Hamas captivity after 491 days, revealed severe and shocking testimonies about the numerous tortures they suffered at the hands of Hamas terrorists during their captivity in Gaza, reminiscent of the extermination camps in Europe and the torture facilities of the Spanish Inquisition. According to a Kan News report on Sunday evening, all three underwent horrific physical torture by the terrorists. They were taken separately for brutal interrogations during which the terrorists demanded information while subjecting them to severe physical abuse. According to a Channel 13 report, the hostages were interrogated about their service period in the IDF, and based on their answers, they were subjected to numerous beatings.