President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather. “The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.” The Rotunda is prepared as the inclement weather alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather. The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term. Monday’s forecast calls for the lowest inauguration day temperatures since that day.

Government Updates Families of Hostages Set for Release in Gaza Ceasefire Deal The government’s Hostages and Missing Persons Coordination Unit has informed the families of 33 Israeli hostages expected to be freed during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. These individuals include women, children, the elderly, and the infirm, classified as “humanitarian” cases. Israel has not yet been informed of how many of the 33 are alive, though it expects the majority are. A full status report will be provided seven days into the ceasefire. The release order and identities of those being freed will be confirmed 24 hours before each release. Release schedule: Day 1 of the ceasefire: 3 hostages. Day 7: 4 hostages. Weeks 2-5: 3 hostages per week. Week 6: 14 hostages.

The IDF announced on Friday morning that it has initiated criminal proceedings against bnei yeshivos who did not report to enlistment centers after receiving draft orders. According to the IDF spokesperson’s statement, anyone designated for enlistment who did not comply with the recruitment order he received will be considered to have committed a criminal offense. The IDF said that the decision is based “on Section 12 of the Security Service Law, after all necessary processes have been exhausted.” “The IDF is the army of the people and operates professionally and officially to enlist all who are required to enlist, in accordance with the law and the instructions of the political leadership,” the statement continued.

Guatemalan authorities were forced to separate children from their mothers because the mothers were not allowing the children to eat. According to sources, Lev Tahor leaders instructed the mothers to starve the children so they would only receive food that the cult wanted them to eat. The children were forbidden from eating even fruits and vegetables. A source in Guatemala said: “They told the children to starve and not to eat things they could eat, for example, fruits and vegetables. They told them not to eat anything, to starve themselves, to hurt themselves, and all sorts of things,” in order to exert pressure on the authorities. One source said: ” I think a baby should be with his mother. But that’s what the judge decided.

The Biden administration is reportedly shocked by reports that Israel plans to delay the approval of a critical hostage deal by one day, potentially complicating its implementation. According to Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to convene a cabinet meeting to vote on the deal’s approval on Shabbos, instead of Friday as initially expected. The report indicates that time constraints will prevent both a security cabinet vote and a full cabinet vote from being held before Shabbos begins on Friday, pushing the latter to Motzei Shabbos. Following the cabinet’s approval, Israeli law requires a 24-hour period for potential High Court of Justice petitions against the agreement before the deal can be implemented.

The lineup for President-elect Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration features a glaring juxtaposition of values and alliances, as Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, and Imam Husham Al-Husainy, a controversial figure with ties to pro-Hezbollah activities, are slated to deliver back-to-back benedictions following Trump’s inaugural address. Berman represents the values of Yeshiva University, America’s flagship Jewish college. Since becoming the university’s fifth president in 2016, he has overseen significant growth in its educational and community impact.

Right-wing activist Yair Ansbacher caused a stir on Thursday when he hung signs on the Kosel, including one reading, “מי לה אלי!” and another displaying the symbols of the Shevatim. Ansbacher claimed that his actions were intended to bolster the morale of Klal Yisrael during a challenging time, following the announcement of the ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas. The deal will see 33 hostages—alive or deceased—released initially, with the remaining 65 contingent upon further agreements to end the war. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rav of the Kosel and other mekomos hakedoshim, issued a strong statement condemning the actions.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced on Thursday morning that Hamas is making a last-minute attempt to back out of the deal announced by US and Qatar leaders on Wednesday. An official statement issued by the PMO’s office early Thursday morning stated; “Prime Minister Netanyahu held a conference call with the negotiation team in Doha, who reported to him on last-minute attempts by Hamas to backtrack from understandings.” “Among other things – contrary to an explicit clause that grants Israel veto power over the release of mass murderers who are symbols of terrorism – Hamas is demanding to dictate the identities of these terrorists.

Senator Marco Rubio delivered a forceful condemnation of Hamas during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, as he seeks to become Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump. Rubio’s comments underscored his intent to take a hardline approach against the terrorist group, which he described as a major obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East. “Hamas sent a bunch of savages into Israel with the express and explicit purpose of targeting civilians,” Rubio said, referencing the Oct. 7 massacre. “How can any nation state on the planet coexist side-by-side with a group of savages like Hamas?” Rubio stated unequivocally that Hamas could not continue to govern Gaza, pointing to the group’s stated goal of Israel’s destruction.

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families. The Prime Minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can, and commended the US President-elect for his remarks that the US would work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism. The two decided to meet in Washington soon in order to discuss this and other important issues. Prime Minister Netanyahu then spoke with US President Joe Biden and thanked him as well for his assistance in advancing the hostages deal. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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