Senior Trump spokesman Jason Miller doubled down on President-elect Donald Trump’s firm warning to Hamas regarding the release of hostages in Gaza. In an appearance on Fox News, Miller was asked about Trump’s strong statement issued on Monday, in which the President-elect demanded the hostages’ release before his inauguration on January 20, 2025, or face severe consequences. When Fox News asked, *“What happens if the hostages in Gaza aren’t released by January 20th?”* Miller responded, “I would take President Trump literally at his word — ‘they will have hell to pay.’” Trump’s initial statement, made via social media, issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas.

The upcoming Torah U’Mesorah Presidents Conference, set to take place December 19-22 at the Trump Doral Golf Resort in Miami, is expected to host Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman as special speakers, Torah U’Mesorah officials tell YWN. “Both have not been 100% confirmed, but it’s looking really good that both will attend,” YWN was told by TU. Governor DeSantis has gained widespread recognition among Orthodox Jewish communities for his steadfast support of educational initiatives that align with religious values and his advocacy for Israel. His strong ties with the Jewish community have been further cemented following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre that claimed the lives of 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.

Religious Zionist MKs Tzvi Sukkot and Simcha Rothman on Tuesday submitted an amendment to the Knesset’s secretariat that would allow criminal investigations against the Attorney General and the State Attorney. The report comes on the same day that Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi published a list of ministers who signed a letter he wrote demanding that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara be ousted from her position for “systematically opposing the government and its ministers.” The letter is signed by Likud members Karhi, May Golan, Amichai Chikli, David Amsalem, Chaim Katz, Miki Zohar and Idit Silman; UTJ members Meir Porush and Yitzchak Goldknopf; and  Otzma Yehudit members Itamar Ben-Gvir, Amichai Eliyahu, Orit Strook, and Yitzchak Wasserlauf.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday warned Lebanon that if it doesn’t enforce the ceasefire with Hezbollah, the IDF would no longer differentiate between Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon. Speaking on a visit to the northern border, Katz said: “The main message I came to convey here: our policy, together with the IDF, is clear and unequivocal – we will act with all our might to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we will have maximum response and zero tolerance.” “Yesterday was the first test. Shots were fired toward Har Dov as if it were outside the usual discourse or subject to interpretation. For us, it is not subject to any interpretation.

Until last month, the Chareidi parties had despaired of the chance of passing a recruitment law, as it seemed impossible mainly due to the firm insistence of then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant not to engage in legislation that would not also be agreed upon by the heads of the opposition, Kikar H’Shabbat reported. Just before UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf announced his resignation from the government due to its failure to pass a recruitment law, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced his decision to fire Gallant and appoint Minister Yisrael Katz as the new Defense Minister. From the moment Gallant was dismissed, the Chareidi parties realized that this was a real opportunity to pass a recruitment law.

More than 400 people attended the third annual gala dinner of the Israeli emergency medical service (EMS) United Hatzalah in Paris, which was held on Sunday evening at the Hôtel du Collectionneur. The event raised 800,000 euros ($842,000) to support the organization’s emergency response efforts, against the backdrop of the ongoing state of war in Israel. Among the distinguished guests were Joshua L. Zarka, the Israeli ambassador to France, writer and actress Rachel Khan as well as Imam Hassen Chalghoumi and his spouse Raïma, who are known for their friendship with the Jewish community and Israel. Israeli-French singer Amir performed during the evening, while the event’s meal was crafted by renowned French chef Ghislaine Arabian, in collaboration with kosher caterer L’Arbre de vie.

The family of Keith Siegel, a 65-year-old US-Israeli hostage still held by Hamas, has announced the death of his mother while he remains in captivity. Siegel was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7 Hamas attack, which devastated the community. Siegel’s daughter, Elan, expressed her grief in a Facebook post, lamenting her father’s inability to bid farewell to his mother. “My father can’t stand with us tomorrow in the cemetery, he can’t say goodbye to the woman who loved him and raised him his whole life,” she wrote.

Israeli officials are concerned that the recent Syrian rebel advances, including the capture of military sites belonging to the Assad regime, could lead to chemical weapons falling into dangerous hands, Haaretz reported. The primary fear is that either Syrian rebels or Iran-backed militias could gain access to advanced weaponry, such as missiles or chemical agents, which would pose a significant threat to Israel. Should such a scenario occur, Israel may be compelled to take actions that could have far-reaching consequences for Syria and the wider Middle East, the report warns. Israel has reportedly sent messages to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through Russian intermediaries, urging him to maintain control over his territory and prevent Iranian forces from operating within Syria.

In a major blow to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the State Prosecutor’s Office, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Ala Masarwa said on Tuesday that there is “evidential weakness” regarding the claim attributed to Eli Feldstein in the indictment against him – that he intended to harm state security. Masarwa presided over a hearing on Tuesday afternoon regarding the State Prosecutor’s Office’s request to extend the detention for Feldstein and the other defendant in the case of the classified document leak from the Prime Minister’s Office. Masarwa said that there is strong evidence regarding the offenses of transferring classified information and disseminating it via media outlets but the evidence is weak that Feldstein is guilty of intending to harm state security.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message to Israel requesting military assistance in the regime’s struggle against the rebels who have captured large portions of northwestern Syria over the past few days, a security official told the Saudi Elaph media outlet. According to the report, Assad’s request was conveyed via one of his aides based in Europe directly to an Israeli security official. Israel did not outright reject the Syrian president’s request but conveyed a message to Assad that all Iranian militias must be removed from Syrian territory before Israel will consider positively responding to the request. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)