According to a report by the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group is still holding seven Israeli hostages, who were abducted on October 7. This follows an earlier statement from PIJ leader Ziyad Nakhaleh, who announced on October 8 that the group had taken more than 30 of the 251 hostages abducted during the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel a day prior. Some of the hostages the PIJ held were released during a temporary truce in November, and it remains unclear whether any of those still in PIJ custody have died. The report also highlights growing cooperation between Hamas and PIJ, particularly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

Hatzolah Air departed early Thursday morning on a plane loaded with search and rescue experts and equipment to Flagstaff, Arizona, where a frantic search is taking place for 8-year-old Tzion Maron, a Baltimore resident who went missing Wednesday evening and has not been heard from since. The aircraft landed in Flagstaff at around 10:15 AM Eastern Time.

The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an exclusive interview, adding that he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” “I worry about the combination of that many threats being elevated at once, with the challenges facing the men and women in law enforcement more generally,” Wray said at the office in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. “And the one thing that I think helps bridge those two challenges is partnerships. That’s how we get through.

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 struck off the coast of northern Israel, according to the Israel Geological Institute. The tremor was felt in the coastal cities of Haifa and Nahariya, located along the Mediterranean coast. The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 37 kilometers (22 miles) offshore, with no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was felt by residents in the region, but did not cause any significant harm or disruption.

Bullets have been found in the bodies of the hostages recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza last week. This discovery has led the IDF to assess that the hostages were likely murdered by Hamas while in captivity. While the reports do not specify which hostages were shot, the mother of Yagev Buchshtav confirmed to Kan radio that her son was among those found with bullet wounds. The recovered hostages, whose bodies were brought back from Khan Younis, include Buchshtav, 35, Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78.  

A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden recently spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement, according to the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the call, which comes as Arab mediators informed The Times of Israel that the US will need to push Israel to retract new demands concerning the continued presence of IDF forces in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors to finalize a deal. Last week, the US submitted a bridging proposal that, according to Arab mediators, leaned too heavily in favor of Netanyahu’s demands for military deployment in and around Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

TRUMP: “The Harris-Biden administration has been caught fraudulently manipulating job statistics to hide the true extent of the economic ruin they’ve inflicted on America.”

“The report on Channel 11 to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed that Israel will withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor – is incorrect. Israel will insist on the achievement of all of its objectives for the war, as they have been defined by the Security Cabinet, including that Gaza never again constitutes a security threat to Israel. This requires securing the southern border.”