Yisrael Frey, a far-left chareidi journalist whose inflammatory celebration of the deaths of five IDF soldiers sparked national outrage, was released to house arrest earlier today following a week of detention in a high-security prison. Frey, who had been held under the rare designation of a “security prisoner,” will remain confined to his home until at least Friday, according to police. Frey’s arrest followed a tweet in which he said, “The world is a better place” after five Israeli soldiers were killed by roadside bombs in Gaza. Four of the soldiers belonged to the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a unit composed largely of frum troops.

A second pro-Hamas protest flotilla departed for the Gaza Strip from Siracusa, Italy, on Sunday morning, a little over a month after a previous attempt to breach Israel’s naval blockade was peacefully intercepted by the Israeli Navy. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group behind the earlier mission, is behind the launch of the new vessel, the Handala. French Member of the European Parliament Emma Fourreau and French MP Gabrielle Cathala are among those on board. In the previous attempt last month, the Madleen, with high-profile figures aboard such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan, was intercepted by Shayetet 13 naval commandos. The activists were peacefully detained, taken to Israel, and later deported. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli submitted a response to the Supreme Court on Sunday morning regarding the petitions against the proceedings to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and called on the court not to interfere in the process. Minister Chikli is the chairman of the ministerial committee established by the government to replace Baharav-Miara. The ministers’ response was not submitted as an official legal response with legal arguments but as a “statement on behalf of the government,” after Levin decided to deny the Supreme Court’s authority to stop the Attorney General’s ouster process.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)’s Dror 1 communications satellite was successfully launched into space early Sunday morning from the SpaceX launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch took place shortly after 8 a.m. (Israeli time) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher. The Dror 1 satellite, Israel’s first communications satellite, weighs 4.5 tons, has a wingspan of 17.8 meters, and bears the largest transmission and reception antennas ever built in Israel. It is intended to serve Israel’s strategic and civilian communications for about 15 years.   (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

During their meeting at the White House, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel would not hesitate to take military action against Iran again if it resumes its activity to develop nuclear weapons, the Wall Street Journal reported. According to the report, Trump, for his part, made it clear that he prefers to try to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means but refrained from expressing strong opposition to another Israeli attack if necessary. The report stated that Israel views the possibility of a resumption of the Iranian nuclear program as a real threat, and does not intend to sit idly by if Tehran resumes uranium enrichment for military purposes.

An IDF officer was killed Thursday in an apparent accident during operations in southern Gaza, bringing Israel’s death toll in its renewed ground offensive against Hamas to 41 since March. The fallen soldier was identified as Captain Reei Biran, 21, a reconnaissance team commander in the Golani Brigade and a resident of Shorashim. According to an IDF investigation, troops were preparing to demolish buildings in Khan Younis suspected of housing Hamas operatives. After rigging the structures with mines, an explosion occurred approximately two hours later. Captain Biran was struck—likely by shrapnel or debris—and succumbed to his wounds shortly thereafter. The circumstances remain under further inquiry.

A wave of concern is sweeping through Jewish members of Congress following the Democratic mayoral primary victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City. Mamdani won the nomination with 56% of the vote in a ranked-choice runoff against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But his support for the BDS movement and refusal to condemn the controversial slogan “globalize the intifada” has drawn sharp rebukes from Democratic lawmakers, especially in light of the recent surge in violent antisemitic incidents across the country. “To not be willing to condemn the term ‘globalize the intifada’ demonstrates a callous disregard for antisemitism and terrorism,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). “It’s terribly disturbing and potentially dangerous.” The slogan became a flashpoint during the campaign.

Rumors spread on Thursday about the organization of a massive demonstration against the draft of Chareidim and a shaila about the matter was even posed to HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, Kikar H’Shabbat reported. The Chareidi sector is beside itself with anger and frustration over the failure to enact a draft law, and especially over the restrictions on lomdei Torah and the intention to harass and arrest them. One of the serious initiatives that arose was to hold a massive demonstration, like the one held in 2015 against the draft law, and in 2000 against the Supreme Court. Activists consulted with Rabbanim and a shaila on the matter was brought to HaRav Landau. HaRav Landau decided that there is no reason to hold such a demonstration at this time.

A hiking tour company based in Puerto Rico denied service to a Jewish tourist, sending a blunt email with the subject line “No thanks” and the message “Free Palestine!” — and later doubling down in a WhatsApp exchange that confirmed they refuse to serve “so called israelis.” Paradise Tours PR, which offers guided hikes and eco-tours throughout Puerto Rico, appears to have engaged in blatant antisemitism after a Jewish American woman reached out to inquire about a hike during her upcoming vacation. The only information provided on the contact form was her name, travel dates, and email address — no political content, no mention of Israel.

A man in his twenties was critically injured on Thursday afternoon in a stabbing attack at the Rami Levy complex at the Gush Etzion junction. His death was determined shortly later, at the scene. The two terrorists who carried out the attack were neutralized at the scene by security forces. An initial investigation reveals that the two terrorists arrived at the shopping area armed with knives and attacked an Israeli security guard. They stabbed him severely and managed to take his gun. MDA teams tried to save his life without success. Large forces from the Yehuda and Shomron district, together with IDF forces and emergency forces, are at the scene and are working to treat the wounded and search for additional suspects. This is a developing story. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)