Iranian authorities are still holding 10 Jews in prison who were arrested after the war with Israel last month. At least 35 Jews, residents of Tehran and Shiraz, were arrested for questioning about their ties with relatives in Israel following the end of the war. Although 25 were subsequently released, 10 of them remain in prison. International efforts are being made to save them. In a conversation with sources in the Iranian community in the United States, B’Chadrei Chareidim was told, “The detainees are held in harsh conditions, completely cut off from their families. We appeal to Am Yisrael—daven for them. Recite Tehillim. Mention them in your tefillos.

A stabbing attack occurred overnight Wednesday in the Jenin area when a terrorist stabbed a soldier who entered with a large force for a military operation. “During an operational activity of an IDF force in the village of Rummanah in the Menashe Brigade, a terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier and moderately wounded him,” the IDF spokesperson stated on Wednesday morning. “The terrorist was neutralized by the forces. The soldier was evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and his family was informed.” “Security forces will continue to work to thwart terrorism in Yehudah and Shomron and bring the terrorists to justice in order to maintain the security of the residents of the sector and the citizens of the State of Israel.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A new poll released by political consulting firm Slingshot Strategies paints a grim picture for Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection prospects, with support for the incumbent barely cracking into double digits as voters look elsewhere in a crowded general election field. According to the survey, Democratic nominee Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani holds a commanding lead with 35% of the vote, followed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo at 25%. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trails in third with 14%, while Adams sits in a distant fourth place with just 11%. “Mamdani’s lead is far from a majority, but it’s clear the momentum is his,” said Evan Roth Smith, founding partner at Slingshot. “The problem is the ballot is already set.

Avraham Azoulai, a young pioneer and newlywed from Shaked Farm in the hills of Yitzhar, was killed while operating engineering machinery during an IDF operation in the southern Gaza Strip, the Shomron Regional Council announced Wednesday. He was 31 years old and had been married for just three months. Azoulai is the third Yitzhar resident to fall in the ongoing war. He was one of dozens of civilian volunteers from Shomron who joined IDF operations in Gaza by operating heavy construction and engineering equipment alongside military forces. According to an initial IDF probe, the incident occurred in Khan Younis when several Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and launched a surprise attack on IDF troops engaged in engineering work.

Iran planned to shower Israel with thousands of ballistic missiles in the coming years. Even after Israel destroyed thousands of its missiles and launchers, the Islamic Republic still boasts that it can cause serious damage to Israel and/or the US if it chooses to do so. “Our armed forces are at the height of their readiness,” said Major General Ebrahim Jabbari of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), speaking to the semi-official Mehr News Agency. “The warehouses, underground missile bases, and facilities we have are so enormous that we have yet to demonstrate the majority of our defense capabilities and effective missiles.” “In case of a war with Israel and the U.S., our facilities will not run out even if we launch missiles at them every day for two years,” he added.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Wednesday published the list of sanctions to be used against bnei yeshivos who refuse to enlist in the IDF. Baharav-Miara approved the sanctions at a meeting she headed this week with the participation of  military, legal, treasury, and security officials. The discussion related to a comprehensive action plan for the 2025 conscription year, designed to ensure the recruitment of Chareidim. The following steps were presented: Sending conscription orders: By the end of July 2025, approximately 54,000 orders will be sent to all potential security service candidates up to the age of 16.5. In addition, those with deferred service (“the pool”) will also be required to report in order to be recruited.

The Chareidi draft law crisis continues, with the most recent promise that the law would be submitted on Sunday of this week or even Monday, failing to materialize. The Chareidi MKs are furious with the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, who continues to postpone the legislation of the law. It is unclear whether Edelstein is working in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but the current delay in the submission of the draft law means that the law will not be legislated in the current Knesset summer session, which ends in about two weeks. “We must admit, there will be no draft law in the current Knesset,” a senior Chareidi official said, as quoted by Kikar H’Shabbat.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released a video on Wednesday morning summarizing his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening – the leaders’ second meeting in less than 24 hours. According to a report by the political correspondents accompanying the Prime Minister, Tuesday’s meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was entirely spontaneous. On Monday, at the end of the joint dinner, Trump asked Netanyahu: “How long are you staying here? Until tomorrow? Until the day after?” Netanyahu replied: “No, I’m here for a few more days.” Trump said, “Oh, great, so let’s meet tomorrow.” Netanyahu replied: “Whenever you want.” At this point, Trump turned to his Chief of Staff, Suzie Wiles, who was sitting with them at the table, and said: “Suzie, can you take care of this?

Israeli police have opened a criminal investigation into far-left journalist Yisrael Frey following a social media post in which he celebrated the deaths of five IDF soldiers and called on Israeli mothers to oppose the war in Gaza. “The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who partook in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity,” Frey wrote on X early Monday. He went on to reference suffering in Gaza, writing: “Unfortunately, for the boy in Gaza now being operated on without anesthesia; the girl starving to death and the family huddling in a tent under bombardment — this is not enough.” In a message to Israeli mothers, Frey added: “Do not be the next to receive your son in a coffin as a war criminal.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Aron Dovid Rubinstein Z”L, a beloved and devoted longtime member of Hatzolah in both Kiryas Joel and the Catskills. He was 51 years old. A dedicated responder for many years, Reb Aron Dovid Z”L, a resident of Kiryas Joel, answered hundreds of emergency calls throughout his service, earning the respect and admiration of his peers and community. He was known for his calm demeanor, reliability, and wholehearted commitment to helping others in times of need. He was known in Hatzolah as KY45 and C88. He had been battling illness in recent years, and his condition significantly worsened in the past few weeks. Levaya details will be published when available. Boruch Dayan Ha’Emes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)