President Joe Biden announced from the White House Rose Garden that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group. The ceasefire is set to take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. The announcement follows extensive negotiations involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and French President Emmanuel Macron. The ceasefire comes after Israel’s national security cabinet voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement, with 10 ministers supporting the proposal and one, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, opposing it. The Prime Minister’s Office said, “Israel appreciates the U.S.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir this week filed a complaint to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara through his attorney, David Peter, requesting that the investigation currently being conducted against members of his ministry be transferred to an objective police officer. An investigation was launched by Israel Police’s Lahav 433 crime unit into five employees of the National Security Ministry on alleged charges of issuing gun permits without the proper authority. Following October 7, Ben-Gvir led an initiative to loosen the strict criteria required for civilians to receive gun licenses. In some cases, civilians who received guns under the new criteria used them to neutralize terrorists.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced plans to present a ceasefire framework to the cabinet on Monday night, marking a potential pause in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire’s success would depend on Hezbollah’s compliance, warning that any violations would be met with decisive military action. In a televised address, Netanyahu assured the Israeli public that the ceasefire agreement, developed in coordination with the United States, would not restrict Israel’s ability to defend itself. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement or attempts to rearm, we will strike,” he declared. “If it tries to rebuild terror infrastructure near the border, we will strike.

The IDF has announced the death of an Arab Soldier, Sergeant Tamer Othman, aged 21, from Kafr Yasif, a soldier in the Nahshon Battalion (90), Kfir Brigade. He was killed during combat in the northern Gaza Strip. His death brings the toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza to 381. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli fighter jets carried out a widespread wave of airstrikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, targeting more than 180 Hezbollah sites in what the IDF described as major blows to the terror group’s infrastructure. The strikes hit command centers, weapon depots, and other Hezbollah facilities in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. Among the targets were 20 Hezbollah sites in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which were hit in rapid succession within two minutes by eight fighter jets. Seven of the buildings destroyed were used by Hezbollah for managing and storing funds, including headquarters and vaults of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, a financial institution linked to the group.

A joint American-French statement is expected to be issued shortly after 10 p.m. local time announcing that a ceasefire has been reached in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is set to deliver a parallel statement welcoming the development. But as Israel’s government prepares to give final approval to the agreement, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz vowed to respond decisively to any breaches of the truce. “We will act against any threat, anytime and anywhere,” Katz told UN Special Envoy for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, according to a statement from his office. Katz underscored concerns that Hezbollah might use the ceasefire to rebuild its military presence near the Israeli border.

Renowned Harvard Law professor emeritus and leading US attorney Alan Dershowitz announced he is forming a “legal dream team” to defend Israel at the Hague against the ICC’s false charges as well as “in the court of public opinion.” In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Dershowitz wrote: “The International Criminal Court, of which neither Israel nor the U.S. is a member, has issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister as well as a Hamas terrorist commander who is probably dead. Although Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant can’t be arrested in the U.S. or Israel, several European countries have already indicated they would arrest them, if they are found within their territory. “This case will be tried in a courtroom in The Hague.

As Israel prepares to sign a ceasefire deal with Lebanon, the IDF spokesperson announced on Tuesday that Golani forces have reached the Litani River, the first time IDF forces have operated in the area since it withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000. Reserve forces of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion carried out a special operation on the slopes of the Litani and the river itself. Channel 12 News reported that soldiers used rappelling ropes to descend some of the slopes of the mountain. Gun battles took place with Hezbollah terrorists in the Litani River area. Soldiers also operated in the Wadi Saluki area. In both areas, soldiers found hundreds of weapons, bunkers, dozens of short and long-range rocket launchers, and many ammunition stockpiles.

The IDF on Tuesday announced that an IDF soldier who was critically wounded battling terrorists on October 7, 2023, died of his wounds early Tuesday morning. He was named as Sgt. First Class Yona Betzalel Brief, H’Yd, 23. He served as a combat medic in the Duvdevan commando unit. Brief, z’l, was seriously injured during a counterterrorism operation in Tulkarm in May 2023. Although he was still undergoing rehabilitation when the Hamas assault began, he and his fellow soldiers arrived at Kfar Azza, saving numerous lives and eliminating dozens of terrorists. He was critically injured in a gun battle on the kibbutz and was evacuated to Sheba Hospital, where doctors have been fighting for his life ever since.

An exciting delivery took place on Sunday at Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak, when a resident of the city gave birth to quadruplets, three girls and a boy, all healthy and in good condition, b’chasdei Hashem. The background story to the birth was published on Sunday on Siach Yitzchak, which publishes the Torah and maisim of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein. At the beginning of the pregnancy, the doctors recommended that the couple reduce the number of embryos due to severe fetal distress. The couple initially consulted with a Rav who advised them to follow the doctors’ recommendations. The couple then decided to talk to HaRav Zilberstein, who is not only a renowned posek but is known for his expertise on medical issues and halacha.