by Rabbi Yair Hoffman Today, the Torah world grieves deeply at the devastating loss of an extraordinary tzaddik, brilliant talmid chochom, beloved father, devoted husband, and selfless philanthropist – Rabbi Howard Balter zt”l. He was a towering scholar whose masterful shiurim at Agudas Yisroel of Long Island captivated all who heard them. His electrifying lessons were marked by penetrating analysis and an unwavering pursuit of truth. With boundless energy and intellectual fire, he would delve into the most complex aspects of a Minchas Chinuch, skillfully presenting multiple perspectives while illuminating the path to deeper understanding. Even as illness ravaged his body, his brilliant mind and passionate dedication to Torah learning never dimmed.

Hamas and Fatah have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint committee to administer postwar Gaza, negotiators from both sides announced Tuesday. The proposed plan, which requires the approval of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, envisions a nonpartisan committee to oversee key sectors such as economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction. According to a draft of the agreement reviewed by AFP, the committee would comprise 10-15 neutral members and manage the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only Gaza crossing not shared with Israel. This development follows Egyptian-mediated talks in Cairo aimed at resolving Gaza’s governance after the ongoing war.

The IDF spokesperson on Tuesday reported that the 990th Reserve Artillery Regiment recently carried out a series of strikes in the central Gaza Strip that eliminated numerous Hamas terrorists, including at least seven who took part in the October 7 massacre. Meanwhile, the “Ram” (179) and “Fire Arrows” (551) Reserve Brigades carried out several focused raids in the Netzarim Corridor, destroying Hamas infrastructure, including military structures and observation and sniper posts. In addition, many weapons were located and destroyed, including grenades, firearms, vests, explosives, and mortars. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of rocket launchers, and Hezbollah sites across Lebanon on Monday evening in response to Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon earlier on Monday. Most of the strikes were carried out against sites in southern Lebanon. Additionally, fighter jets struck the launcher used to launch the two mortars at Har Dov shortly after they were fired. Israeli sources said on Tuesday morning that the IDF had also planned to strike the Beirut area in response to the mortars but were heavily pressured by the Biden administration to refrain from doing so in order not to escalate the tense situation.

Louis Har, who was rescued from the heart of Rafah in a heroic operation by Yamam special forces after 129 days in captivity, appeared on Shneor Webber’s Melting Pot podcast and shared his harrowing experience in Hamas captivity and personal awakening. “My views have changed a lot from October 6 until today,” Har said. “I don’t trust any of them. I know that in some way, everyone in Gaza is involved. They were born to hate. They are given weapons when they are babies. They’re happy to sacrifice their children to kill Jews. That’s how they live.” “To achieve dialogue and coexistence, several generations of proper education in which hatred isn’t taught need to pass. That does not exist. There is no one to talk to.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates have been exploring the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in exchange for a significant shift in his alliances, according to five sources familiar with the discussions. Reuters reports that the proposed deal hinges on Assad severing ties with Iran and halting the flow of weapons to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The dialogue between Washington and Abu Dhabi has gained momentum in recent months, fueled by the looming expiration of extensive U.S. sanctions on Syria on December 20. This initiative is also intertwined with Israel’s escalating efforts to counteract Tehran’s regional influence, including its backing of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and Iranian military assets in Syria.

Israel has significantly expanded its control over the central Gaza Strip, particularly around the Netzarim Corridor,  suggesting that the IDF is preparing for a prolonged presence within the Palestinian enclave, according to a report by The New York Times. Citing satellite images and video footage, the report indicates that the IDF has constructed or expanded approximately a dozen military bases in the area over the past three months. An IDF spokesman responded to the report, saying that “anything that has been built there can be taken down within a day.” Initially, the Netzarim Corridor consisted of a narrow, four-mile strip of land centered around a road south of Gaza City.

Israeli fighter jets intercepted an Iranian aircraft suspected of transporting weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, forcing it to reverse course over Syria late Saturday night, a defense source confirmed to *The Times of Israel*. The incident unfolded as Israeli Air Force jets confronted the plane mid-flight and instructed it to turn back. The aircraft complied shortly afterward, according to the source. The interception, first reported by Ynet, was part of Israel’s broader campaign to disrupt Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah. While Ynet included a screenshot of flight data, it mistakenly referenced an unrelated Iranian Mahan Air plane that landed in Latakia earlier on Saturday. This latest action occurred during a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Sky News Arabia reported that senior Hamas officials left Qatar with their families for various destinations, following heavy US pressure. The US informed Qatar last month that Hamas’s presence in Doha is no longer acceptable. The American request came after Hamas rejected a proposal to reach a hostage release deal after the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Additionally, US pressure on Qatar significantly intensified following the murder of American-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, H”yd. On November 19, Qatar confirmed that the Hamas leaders responsible for negotiating the ceasefire in Gaza with Israel are not currently in Doha and denied the closure of the Hamas office in the country.

President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum on Monday regarding hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In a social media post, Trump demanded the immediate release of these hostages, warning that failure to do so before his inauguration on January 20, 2025, would result in severe consequences. “Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk, and no action!” Trump wrote.