Explosions were heard on Wednesday afternoon as warning sirens blared throughout Ashkelon, a city along Israel’s southern coastline. According to the IDF, a missile fired by Islamic Jihad militants from northern Gaza was successfully intercepted. There were no injuries reported in the incident.
A military spokesperson stated: “Following the sirens that sounded in the Lakhish area, one projectile that was identified crossing into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip was intercepted by the IAF. No injuries were reported.”
As night fell, sirens were triggered once again in the border communities of Netiv Ha’asara and Zikim, situated within the Gaza envelope.

Israeli military officials have confirmed that the terrorist responsible for the deadly shooting near Bruchin, which claimed the life of Tze’ela Gez, has been killed. Additionally, two other individuals were taken into custody by the Shin Bet for questioning.
The targeted operation unfolded last Shabbos when soldiers from the IDF’s Ephraim Brigade, working on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet, carried out a sweep in the village of Burqin, not far from the site of the attack. During the search, a man approached the troops, shouting in Arabic and carrying a suspicious bag. Believing their lives were in danger, the soldiers responded with lethal force. None of the soldiers were harmed.

President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa found themselves at odds during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, with tensions flaring over Trump’s claims of “genocide” targeting white farmers in South Africa.
In an unusual moment in the Oval Office, Trump ordered the lights lowered and played a series of video clips on a TV monitor to back up his assertions. Ramaphosa appeared caught off guard and commented that he hadn’t previously seen the footage. The origin and authenticity of the videos were not disclosed.
Trump also displayed what he described as media clippings highlighting violent incidents involving white Afrikaner farmers.

[COMMUNICATED]

Benny is fighting for his life.

They have lost one child.
Now their sole son, Benny, is battling for his life.

Benny is very sick. He cannot sit up. He cannot eat.
He’s in the ICU—by himself—hooked up to machines, without his parents there for him.

Emanuel Yechia Meshulam, a highly respected mohel from Rechovot, died at age 88 while officiating at a brit milah on Wednesday.
Meshulam, who dedicated over forty years to his craft, had performed brisos numbering in the tens of thousands before suddenly collapsing during the bris.
WATCH:

The U.S. military has been tasked with assessing how to quickly modify a Boeing 747 aircraft gifted by Qatar so it can serve as a new version of Air Force One for President Trump, a Defense Department official confirmed on Wednesday.
“The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. “The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States.”

As the yahrtzeit of the Tanna Rav Chanina ben Dosa this Shabbos approaches, rabbonim are warning the public not to visit his kever this year due to serious security concerns.
Located in the hostile Arab village of Arraba in the Galilee, the kever has long drawn large crowds, especially on Thursday nights, seen as an eis ratzon for yeshuos. In recent years, the site has become increasingly popular among those seeking yeshuos. However, its sensitive location has made it a cause for concern, and this year, leading rabbonim are urging the public to stay away.

Donald Trump Jr. hinted at the possibility of entering the presidential race one day during a discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum on Wednesday, stating that he feels “that calling is there.” While not confirming any plans, he acknowledged that it remains a consideration.
“So the answer is I don’t know, maybe one day. You know, that calling is there. I’ll always be very active in terms of being a vocal proponent of these things. I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party,” he said during his appearance at the event.

The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) has issued a fresh advisory to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to take swift action on President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending initiative known as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), warning of serious consequences if the legislation stalls.
In a memo titled “Ramifications of Not Passing the One Big Beautiful Bill,” shared exclusively with Newsmax ahead of its delivery to Congress on Wednesday, the CEA argues that the proposed legislation “will provide a growth boom to the U.S. economy, helping create millions of jobs, boost families’ take-home pay, spur investment and revitalize rural communities.”

During a recent Knesset committee session, Brigadier General Shai Taib revealed that the IDF had refrained from physically pursuing draft dodgers for the first nine months of the war. “In the first nine months of the fighting, we did not carry out physical enforcement operations against deserters. We have priorities,” Taib explained.
He added that enforcement measures at Ben Gurion Airport, where 340 people have been detained, were applied across all segments of society and not exclusively aimed at the chareidi community.