President-elect Donald Trump issued a renewed warning to Hamas, demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza before he takes office on January 20. In a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, Trump doubled down on his previous statement that there would be “hell to pay” if Hamas fails to comply. “Exactly what it says — if those hostages aren’t released by the time I get into office, there will be hell to pay,” Trump said during the interview. When pressed for specifics, Trump refrained from elaborating but made clear his stance would be more forceful than that of the current administration. “It won’t be the word ‘don’t,’ you know,” he remarked, referencing President Joe Biden’s warning to Hamas on October 10, 2023, following the terror group’s October 7 attack on Israel.

IDF Captain Eitan Sheknazi (24), a resident of Eli in the Binyamin area, was killed in in Gaza on Monday. Eitan leaves behind a young wife. He is the tenth solider killed in battle from the community of Eli. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

French President Emmanuel Macron says Iran is the foremost strategic and security threat in the Middle East, pointing to the rapid advancement of its nuclear program and its ongoing support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and beyond,” Macron said in a speech to ambassadors, adding that Iran’s actions would be a central topic in upcoming discussions with the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Macron expressed worry over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, warning, “The acceleration of the nuclear program leads us nearly to the point of no return.” Turning to Syria, Macron cautioned against Western complacency following the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power.

President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to enact severe sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) immediately after taking office, targeting both the institution and its personnel, sources told Yisrael Hayom. The executive orders could be unveiled as early as January 21, just one day after Trump’s inauguration. The sanctions will reportedly focus on ICC judges, prosecutors, and staff involved in the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Trump’s administration plans to classify the ICC as a threat to U.S. national security interests, using the same legal mechanisms typically reserved for terrorist organizations.

Sergeant Elad Yaakov Winklestein hy”d, 35, was murdered in cold blood on Monday morning – his eight-year-old son sitting helplessly by his side, forced to witness the horrifying moment his father’s life was taken. Sgt. Winklestein, a police detective from Kibbutz Ein Hanatziv, valiantly managed to fire two shots at the terrorist before succumbing to his injuries. His final moments were marked by bravery, yet the attack leaves behind a grieving family and a child forever scarred by the trauma of seeing his father senselessly killed in front of his eyes. Winklestein is survived by his wife, Tal, and their two sons, Neve and Omer. His parents, Naomi and Yossi, along with his siblings Yonatan, Hadas, and Harel, now face the unimaginable loss of a son and brother whose life was cut short.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged a final push to secure a hostage-ceasefire deal in Gaza before President Joe Biden leaves office, signaling a narrowing window for negotiations. Blinken’s call follows claims from a Hamas official that the terror group has approved the release of 34 hostages under the terms of a potential truce. “We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time we have remaining,” Blinken said at a press conference when asked about the status of the negotiations. Israel has dispatched a delegation of mid-level officials to Qatar for talks mediated by Qatari and Egyptian envoys.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement following media reports on Sunday that the Hamas terror group provided a list of 34 hostages to be released in a potential deal. “The list of hostages that was published in the media was not provided to Israel by Hamas but was originally transferred by Israel to the mediators in July 2024,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated. “Israel has not yet received any confirmation or comment by Hamas regarding the status of the hostages appearing on the list. Israel will continue to work unceasingly for the return of all of our hostages.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Rabbi Binyamin Hamra, the chief rabbi of the Syrian Jewish community in Israel, has reached out to Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, congratulating him on his victory over the Assad regime and urging the preservation of Syria’s dwindling Jewish community and its historical sites. In his letter, Hamra noted the deep roots of Syria’s Jewish population, describing it as an “integral part of the rich and diverse fabric of the Syrian people” for thousands of years. Despite being a small minority, he noted, the Jewish community contributed to the nation’s cultural tapestry. “Throughout Syria are historical sites, ancient synagogues, and tombs of great Jewish leaders, which constitute cultural and religious heritage for Jews throughout the world,” Hamra wrote.

Hamas terrorists in northern Gaza fired three rockets at the city of Sderot late Monday morning. One rocket hit a home in the city, slightly damaging it. B’Chasdei Hashem, no one was injured. The IDF said that another rocket was intercepted and a third hit an open area. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Three Israeli civilians were killed in a shooting attack on Route 55 in the Shromron, between Kedumim and Karnei Shomron, near the village of al-Funduq on Monday morning. MDA paramedics were forced to declare the deaths of two women in their 60s and a man in his 40s at the scene. Armed terrorists opened fire on a bus full of passengers and on passing cars, killing three and injuring six others, including the bus driver who was seriously injured. The terrorists fled the scene. A large number of IDF forces arrived at the scene and a manhunt was launched, including setting up numerous roadblocks. IDF officials believe that the terrorists escaped to a nearby Palestinian village.   (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)