Hamas has made a decision not to respond to Israel’s counterproposal for a ceasefire/hostage release deal, an official told Reuters on Wednesday. According to the official, the terror group is “committed” to the mediators’ plan instead. Israel had submitted a counterproposal last week to a new Egyptian proposal for a hostage release/ceasefire deal that would see Hamas releasing US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander along with four other hostages [not all alive] in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire and the start of negotiations on a long-term ceasefire; the opening of Gazan crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid; and the re-opening of the Netzarim Corridor. Israel would also release 2,000 Palestinians detained after the October 7 attack and 250 terrorists for each released hostage.

Turkey has significantly increased the flow of weapons and money into Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, Kan News reported on Wednesday morning. According to the report, Turkey has its eyes on several Syrian Air Force bases, some of which were supported by Iran in the past. The most prominent of these is the Tiyas (“T-4″) airfield in central Syria, which the IDF attacked last week. According to Middle Eastern media outlets, Turkey recently initiated efforts to take control of the T-4 airfield and is planning to deploy air defense systems there. According to sources familiar with the matter quoted by the Middle East Eye website, construction is currently taking place to transform the facility into a permanent Turkish military presence.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has advanced Mike Huckabee’s nomination to serve as the United States ambassador to Israel, bringing him one step closer to confirmation pending a vote by the full Senate.
During Wednesday’s session, all Republican members of the committee cast their votes in favor of Huckabee’s nomination, while every Democrat on the panel voted against it.

Late Wednesday, the Senate voted to oppose President Donald Trump’s authority to levy tariffs on Canada, marking what some might see as a rare public disagreement with the president, just as he revealed bold new trade restrictions.
In a 51-48 vote, the Senate approved a measure to repeal Trump’s emergency declaration on fentanyl, the legal basis for his tariffs against Canada.
Earlier in the day, Trump had declared a new “Liberation Day” initiative, unveiling tariffs aimed at several foreign nations, though Canadian goods were temporarily excluded from the new restrictions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a resolution

  A massive tornado touched down earlier near Lake City, Arkansas, causing extensive damage.

The sweeping new tariffs announced Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump were met initially with measured reactions from key trading partners, highlighting the lack of appetite for a full-fledged trade war. Trump presented the import taxes, which he calls “reciprocal tariffs” and range from 10% to 49%, in the simplest terms: the U.S. would do to its trading partners what he said they had been doing to the U.S. for decades. “Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” he said.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israeli forces are establishing a new security corridor in southern Gaza, aiming to isolate the city of Rafah from the rest of the Strip and increase pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages. In a video statement, Netanyahu said the IDF is securing the “Morag Corridor” — named after a former Israeli settlement — between Rafah and Khan Younis. He described the effort as creating a “second Philadelphi” route, echoing the corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. Netanyahu has prioritized Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor in ongoing ceasefire talks, although Israel previously agreed to vacate the area by the 50th day of the January hostage deal — a commitment it has since breached.

Due to the overwhelming interest from the public in joining the annual Birkas Kohanim at the Kosel on Chol hamoed, the Western Wall Foundation has announced that this year, the event will take place twice—on Tuesday and Thursday of Chol Hamoed Pesach.
These gatherings at the Kosel will be attended by a distinguished group of participants, including former hostages who have been freed, their families, relatives of those still in captivity, injured chayalim, heroes of the IDF, the chief rabbis, the mayor of Yerushalayim, and throngs of mispallelim.