'This is your last warning!': Trump gives ultimatum to Hamas

"Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," US President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social and X/Twitter on Wednesday evening, addressing Hamas. "Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose," his post read.

"Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" he continued. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," Trump warned. "RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" he concluded.   (Read More)

Trump Warns Gaza ‘You Are dead’ If Hostages Not Freed

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee. 

Strongly backing Israel as a ceasefire teeters, Trump said he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job” as his administration expedites billions of dollars in weapons. “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages. 

“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.” Trump also made clear there would be repercussions for Gaza as a whole, where virtually the entire population has been displaced by Israel’s relentless military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!” His comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning of “consequences that you cannot imagine” if Hamas does not hand over remaining hostages seized in the October 7 attack.  (Read More) 

Rubio: Trump has ‘lost his patience’ with Hamas over hostages

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong support for President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas, saying the president is done waiting for the terrorist group to release hostages in Gaza. “He’s lost his patience with it,” Rubio told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday. “He’s tired of watching videos of emaciated hostages being released, bodies turned over—sometimes the wrong ones—and these games being played.

”Following an Oval Office meeting with freed Israeli hostages earlier in the day, Trump issued a blunt warning on Truth Social: “Release all of the hostages now, not later … or it is over for you.” He vowed to provide Israel with “everything it needs to finish the job” if Hamas refuses.

The secretary of state praised Trump’s direct approach. “He doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean,” Rubio said. “If he says he’ll do something, he’ll do it. They better take that seriously.”  (Read More)

'Right man at the right time': Israeli and world leaders react to Trump's warning against Hamas

Israeli and international leaders shared their reactions to US President Donald Trump issuing an ultimatum to Hamas in Truth Social and X/Twitter posts late Wednesday night. Following Trump’s White House meeting with six released Israeli hostages in Washington, the US President posted a warning to the terror group.

"This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," Trump threatened in his message. Shortly after the post was shared, several leaders expressed their support for Trump’s readiness to take action against Hamas. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shared on X, “Thank you, Mr. President, for your commitment to Israel’s security and the security of the entire free world and for your concern for the return of all our hostages to their homes.”

"The government must embrace President Trump's proposal and stop bypassing him from the left. Release all our hostages immediately, or absolute hell immediately," Israel's former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote. Knesset Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman shared a short message of gratitude: “This is the only way to bring them all home. Thank you, Mr. President."  (Read More)

Iran accelerates diplomatic outreach as US-Israel pressures escalate - analysis

Iran has “accelerated” a diplomatic campaign, Iran’s state media IRNA said on March 6. This is the latest message from Iran, days after it appeared that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had been strong-armed by the Supreme Leader to step back from outreach to the US. It also comes days after a report said Russia might help mediate with Washington. Clearly, many things are in motion in Tehran. 

“The Islamic Republic has accelerated a diplomatic campaign in recent months to strengthen ties with neighbors as part of broader efforts to balance against the potential threats of an aggressive and uncompromising United States and an increasingly malign Israel,” Iran’s state media said.

“The foreign policy of amicable relations with neighbors, which Iran has implemented to varying degrees of urgency and success over the last four decades, has taken on new significance for the country as a belligerent US,” the report added.   (Read More)

Israel, US conduct major joint military drill over Mediterranean

The Israeli and U.S. Air Forces this week conducted a significant joint military exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, in their first collaboration on this scale in two years. Dozens of fighter jets, strategic B-52 bombers and refueling aircraft participated, simulating coordinated strikes on shared targets, Israel’s Kan News public broadcaster reported on Tuesday. 

The drill comes as foreign reports suggest Israel is urging the United States to take joint action against Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized collaboration with Washington to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned that diplomatic efforts are faltering, leaving military action as a possibility.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized collaboration with Washington to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned that diplomatic efforts are faltering, leaving military action as a possibility. Iran is bracing for an Israeli strike, with The Telegraph citing sources who claim Tehran is on high alert, strengthening defenses at undisclosed sites following recent Israeli attacks.

The Islamic Republic over the past two months conducted its “most intense military exercises in decades,” experts on regional security issues told VOA on Wednesday. The drills involved some weapons systems posing a threat to the U.S., Israel and other nations.  (Read More)

Syrian President demands immediate Israeli withdrawal from south

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged the international community on Tuesday to pressure Israel into an "immediate" withdrawal from the south of the country, AFP reported. Sharaa’s remarks came as he attended his first Arab summit since taking office. Sharaa’s Islamist faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that ousted longtime Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad on December 8. Following Assad’s removal, Israel deployed troops to a UN-monitored buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights since 1974. 

Beyond ground operations, Israeli forces have also launched a series of air strikes against Syrian military sites in recent days. "We urge the international community to uphold its legal and moral commitments by supporting Syria's rights and pressuring Israel to immediately withdraw from southern Syria," Sharaa told Arab leaders gathered in Cairo, as quoted by AFP. 

He further warned that Israel's "hostile expansion is not only a violation of Syrian sovereignty, but also a direct threat to security and peace in the entire region." Last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would not accept the presence of Syria’s new leadership in the south, demanding "the complete demilitarisation of southern Syria." Sharaa’s attendance at the Arab League summit on Gaza marked his first high-profile diplomatic engagement since the removal of Assad nearly three months ago.  (Read More)

IDF hits Assad assets in northwestern Syria

Israeli fighter jets attacked a military site of Syria’s former Assad regime near Qardaha in northwestern Syria on Monday night in response to “recent developments in the area,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

“The IDF continues to monitor developments in the area and will act as necessary in order to defend the citizens of the State of Israel,” the military said, confirming earlier local reports.

The attack targeted “a military site where weapons belonging to the previous Syrian regime were stored,” the statement added. It did not specify which developments prompted the strike. Syrian media outlets earlier on Thursday night reported that an Israeli strike had hit an “air defense base” belonging to Assad’s former army.   (Read More)

Women’s leadership: Key to addressing Israel’s crises- opinion

The past year has been one of the most challenging in Israel’s history, particularly for women and especially for female students. An entire generation of women has been forced to navigate an impossible reality.

Students have shouldered the responsibility for their families while their partners were repeatedly called up for reserve duty; young women have struggled to make ends meet while juggling studies and an unforgiving economic climate; and mothers of students have been left without support, with the higher education system failing to make the necessary adjustments.

Women have played every conceivable role in this war, even if public discourse has rarely reflected it. They have fought on the front lines, led relief efforts, supported families, continued their studies, and maintained their jobs under impossible conditions – and yet their contributions have been largely unrecognized. Over 60,000 women have served on reserve duty, including thousands of combat soldiers who played an active role on the battlefield. Thousands of mothers left their children behind to fulfill their military obligations, managing their households from afar.  (Read More)

With Trump’s backing, Hamas’s defeat is now possible

For the last year and a half, it has been a self-fulfilling prophecy. Those who have claimed that Hamas couldn’t be defeated were right—but only because the rules of engagement of the war that the terrorists launched on Oct. 7, 2023, were set up to ensure that it survived. Those rules may now be about to change. Or at least they will if the Jewish state takes advantage of two factors that could alter the balance of power between the Jewish state and the genocidal terrorists it seeks to destroy.

The change in power in Washington and the shocking exploitation of the ceasefire deal on the part of Hamas that so outraged the Israeli public has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an opportunity to reset that agreement in a way that could either free all the hostages or lead to Hamas’s demise. The question is: Does he have sufficient support from his own people to do it?

That’s the context for the announcement this past weekend that Israel was halting the entry of humanitarian goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip until Hamas agrees to the framework for a second-phase deal along the lines proposed by the Trump administration. The goal is to set up a negotiation that would achieve at least one of Israel’s two main war goals: freeing all of the remaining hostages taken by the Palestinians on Oct. 7 and eradicating Hamas. (Read More)

FM Sa’ar: Hamas rejected ceasefire, turned aid into terror funding

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has confirmed that Hamas rejected a proposal to extend the temporary ceasefire, despite Israel’s full compliance with the framework for hostage releases. Speaking to international media, Sa’ar stated that Israel upheld its commitments, including the facilitation of humanitarian aid, until the last possible moment. “Saturday was the last day of the first phase of the framework for the release of our hostages,” Sa’ar said. “Israel has fully implemented its part, including the part of humanitarian aid, fully and down to the last day.”

According to Sa’ar, Israel accepted a US-backed proposal, led by President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to extend the ceasefire. However, Hamas refused the offer, forcing Israel to take action. “Unfortunately, Hamas rejected the offer,” Sa’ar stated. “Accordingly, Israel stopped enabling the entry of aid into Gaza.”Sa’ar emphasized that Hamas has exploited humanitarian aid for its own financial and military gain, using it as a primary source of income to fund terrorism. 

“Aid that goes to Hamas is not humanitarian,” he said. “Unfortunately, Hamas’ takeover of goods turned it into an economic engine for them. It became the number one budget income for Hamas in Gaza. They use that money for terror, to restore terror capabilities, and to recruit more terrorists.”   (Read More)

Reports: Egypt Expected to Unveil $50 Billion+ Gaza Plan to Keep Trump Out

Egypt is hosting a summit of Arab nations on Tuesday intended to finalize the provisions for a comprehensive plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip – an attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from implementing his proposal for the United States to rebuild the war-torn area, which would require the evacuation of Palestinians trapped under Hamas rule there.

The Egyptian government is referring to the meeting as the “Extraordinary Arab Summit” on the future of Gaza, which has been under the rule of the genocidal terrorist organization Hamas since 2007. Hamas has devastated the Gaza Strip, outfitting a large percentage of its civilian areas into terrorist infrastructure such as tunnels, weapons depots, and command centers. Palestinians civilians have endured Hamas turning homes, schools, United Nations humanitarian sites, and even hospitals into terror centers used to attack Israel.

Much of Hamas has been destroyed in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, terrorist siege of Israel by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 people, the abduction of over 200, and a wide array of atrocities committed against Israeli civilians such as gang rape, torture, infanticide, and the desecration of corpses. Israel declared war on Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have focused on dismantling Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, as Hamas used the territory to launch the October 7 attack. The IDF has also uncovered evidence of Hamas terrorists torturing and otherwise abusing Palestinians trapped in Gaza and offered humanitarian support.   (Read More)

Zelensky: End of War with Russia is ‘very, very far away’

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia “is still very, very far away,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that he expects to keep receiving American support despite his recent fraught relationswith U.S. President Donald Trump. “I think our relationship (with the U.S.) will continue, because it’s more than an occasional relationship,” Zelenskyy said late Sunday, referring to Washington’s support for the past three years of war.

Zelenskyy publicly was upbeat despite recent diplomatic upheaval between Western countries that have been helping Ukraine with military hardware and financial aid. The turn of events is unwelcome for Ukraine, whose understrength army is having a hard time keep bigger Russian forces at bay. The Ukrainian leader was in London to attend U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s effort to rally his European counterparts around continuing — and likely much increased — support for Ukraine from the continent amid political uncertainty in the U.S., and Trump’s overtures toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Europe is suspicious of Trump’s motives and strategy. Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next leader after the recent election, said Monday that he didn’t think last Friday’s Oval Office blow-up was spontaneous.He said that he had watched the scene repeatedly. “My assessment is that it wasn’t a spontaneous reaction to interventions by Zelenskyy, but apparently an induced escalation in this meeting in the Oval Office,” Merz said. He said that he was “somewhat astonished by the mutual tone,” but there has been “a certain continuity to what we are seeing from Washington at the moment” in recent weeks. “I would advocate for us preparing to have to do a great, great deal more for our own security in the coming years and decades,” he said. (Read More)

Could It Be Possible That This Was Zelenskyy’s Plan After All?

Things are not always as they seem, and I am convinced that the drama that we witnessed at the White House on Friday is a perfect example.  Right now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is being endlessly ridiculed by the conservative media in the United States.  One of the words that is being used to describe Zelenskyy is “stupid”, but the truth is that Zelenskyy is not stupid at all.  I strongly disagree with Zelenskyy on a lot of things, but I also recognize that he is an incredibly cunning individual.  He has used the war with Russia to become one of the most famous celebrities on the entire planet.  Much of the global population is absolutely in love with him, and no matter what Zelenskyy does they just keep showering him and his nation with more cash.

But Donald Trump recognizes exactly what Zelenskyy is, and that presents a huge problem for Zelenskyy. The U.S. has given more cash and military equipment to Ukraine than anyone else by a wide margin. In fact, the U.S. was feverishly arming Ukraine even before the war began. A lot of people do not realize this. 

In the early days of the Biden administration, Zelenskyy’s goal was to take the DPR and the LPR.  That is why there were 70,000 Ukrainian troops massed along the borders of the DPR and the LPR in February 2022.  Apparently Biden had given Zelenskyy a green light to go in. But now we are in 2025, and there is an administration in the White House that wants to bring peace to the region.Sadly, Zelenskyy does not want peace. I will explain why below. Zelenskyy is completely and utterly opposed to a peace agreement negotiated by Trump, and the argument that we witnessed in the Oval Office on Friday ensured that there will not be one any time soon. Following that argument, several prominent Republican lawmakers suggested that it might be time for Zelenskyy to resign…   (Read More)

DAVID SACHS ON ZELENSKY’S INCENTIVES

David Sachs is a prominent Silicon Valley tech investor with a large following and a popular podcast, “All In.” His observation’s on Zelensky posted on Twitter/X are worth taking in: Zelensky’s meltdown in the Oval Office began over his refusal to accept a negotiated settlement to the war. Even the Vice President’s use of the word “diplomacy” provoked a heated response. So why can’t Zelensky make a peace deal?

1) He will lose power. Zelensky cancelled elections in Ukraine and remains in power through martial law. Despite what USAID propaganda polls may claim, Zelensky is unpopular in Ukraine and would likely lose a fair election. That could leave him vulnerable to retaliation from political opponents he has imprisoned or seized assets from. In short, Zelensky needs the war to justify his continued rule.

2) The gravy train will end. Ukraine was widely acknowledged as the most corrupt country in Europe before the war, and there is abundant evidence that Ukrainian elites have been hugely profiting from the billions in Western aid. If the war ends, so does the gravy train. A post-war audit of where the money went would also be disastrous for Zelensky’s supporters.

3) He fears the ultra-nationalists. Most Ukrainians say they want the war to end, but the ultra-nationalist faction (a relative minority but well-armed and willing to use violence to achieve their ends) refuses to accept any territorial concessions to Russia. If Zelensky signs such a deal, he has reason to fear for his safety.

4) He’s psychologically committed. Zelensky’s belief in ultimate victory over Russia has “hardened into a form that worries some of his advisors,” according to a report by TIME Magazine, which described Zelensky’s faith as “immovable, on the messianic.” According to one of Zelensky’s aides, “He is delusional. We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.” Zelensky may be in too deep to see the situation objectively. (Ed note: Re: author's name, correct spelling is David Sacks)  (Read More)

War returning to Gaza? Hamas refuses hostage-ceasefire extension, new IDF chief calls meeting of top officers

Despite the expiration of the first phase of the hostage-ceasefire, fighting has not yet resumed in the Gaza Strip. Following Israel’s announcement of support for a first phase extension, which Israel claims came from U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Hamas’ rejection of the proposal, the possibility of a return of hostilities looks increasingly likely. 

On Sunday, mediators worked to prevent the collapse of the hostage-ceasefire agreement, while Egypt proposed extending the first phase by two weeks, with Hamas releasing an additional six hostages – three living, and three deceased. The so-called Witkoff proposal called for an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire throughout the Muslim month-long fast of Ramadan, as well as through the weeklong period of Pesach (Passover).

Additionally, the plan called for the release of half the living and deceased hostages at the beginning of the extension, with the remainder to be released upon the completion of the extension with an agreement for a permanent ceasefire. With Hamas apparently rejecting both offers, Israel is believed to be preparing for a return to fighting, while still holding off for several days to give Hamas a chance to change their position. (Read More) 

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif Resigns

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif resigned on Sunday evening, strongly implying in his resignation letter that he was forced out by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni and other theocratic hardliners.

Zarif, 65, was Iran’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2021 and served as Iran’s lead negotiator for the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal was signed by President Barack Obama, but President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, citing Iranian cheating and support for terrorism. Zarif was seen as a leader in the “moderate” or “reformist” wing of Iranian politics. Along with Hassan Rouhani, who was president of Iran when the JCPOA was negotiated, Zarif endorsed “moderate” candidate Masoud Pezeshkian in the June 2024 special election to replace hardline President Ebrahim Raisi after he died in a helicopter crash.

Terms like “moderate” and “reformist” are highly relative in Iranian politics, particularly since Western media constantly abuse such language to paint leaders like Zarif and Rouhani as preferable to the “hardliners.” Pezeshkian won an upset victory to become a moderate and reformist president, for example, but he has not been much help when it comes to halting Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, and he proved quite bloodthirsty when it came to using Iran’s terrorist proxies to shed innocent blood on behalf of Hamas in the Gaza war and was willing to directly attackIsrael with missiles twice after Hamas started the war on October 7, 2023. (Read More)

Russian missile experts flew to Iran around the time of Tehran’s attacks on Israel

Several senior Russian missile specialists have visited Iran over the past year as the Islamic Republic has deepened its defense cooperation with Moscow, a Reuters review of travel records and employment data indicates.

The seven weapons experts were booked to travel from Moscow to Tehran aboard two flights on April 24 and September 17 last year, according to documents detailing the two group bookings as well as the passenger manifest for the second flight. The flights came 10 days after Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel, and two weeks before the second and most recent attack, respectively.

The booking records include the men’s passport numbers, with six of the seven having the prefix “20.” That denotes a passport used for official state business, issued to government officials on foreign work trips and military personnel stationed abroad, according to an edict published by the Russian government and a document on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.  (Read Moe)

Does This Chart Show That The Recession They Have Been Planning Has Already Begun?

Have you noticed that now there is a lot of chatter about how “Trump’s policies” threaten to plunge the U.S. economy into a recession?  The messaging that we are getting from so many prominent voices is so similar that one would be tempted to think that they are all getting their talking points from the same source.  Is some sort of a coordinated effort taking place behind the scenes? 

 Without a doubt, our economy is in really big trouble right now.  Our economic momentum was taking us in the wrong direction during the final stages of the Biden administration, and in recent weeks our problems have clearly accelerated.  About a month ago, I suggested that those that control the levers of financial power were up to something.  Could it be possible that what they have been planning is now playing out right in front of our eyes?

Within the past week, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model has gone into a nosedive. Honestly, I have never seen anything like this. If you can believe it, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model is now projecting that U.S. GDP will shrink by 2.8 percent on an annualized basis during the first quarter of 2025… (Ed note: Yes, Trump will be blamed for the coming economic collapse, but he did not cause it.)   (Read More)

‘Free world needs a new leader’, says EU foreign chief after Trump Zelenskyy row

The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said ‘the free world needs a new leader’ and that it was up to Europeans to take this challenge. The EU foreign policy chief has declared that “the free world needs a new leader”, as European leaders threw their support behind Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the stunning White House confrontation between him and Donald Trump.

Leaders from across Europe expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian leader after the fractious exchange with JD Vance, the US vice-president, and Trump, who claimed he was not “ready for peace” and accused him of “gambling with world war three”.


Although in general the European leaders did not name the US president, their comments late on Friday laid bare the gaping rift between the US and its traditional allies in Europe over the war in Ukraine. (Read More)

Prophetic Turning Point? Trump-Zelensky Clash Ignites Calls For EU Army

For those who study Bible prophecy, recent world events have raised eyebrows. The abrupt fallout between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not only shaken diplomatic relations but has also sparked renewed calls for Europe to establish its own army—one independent of the United States. Could this be the fulfillment of a prophetic moment leading toward the rise of a European superstate? And could this pave the way for the prophesied leader who will unite Europe under a single banner?

Biblical prophecy, particularly in the books of Daniel and Revelation, speaks of a final world empire arising from the remnants of the Roman Empire. Daniel 2 describes a vision of a statue, where the feet—partly iron and partly clay—represent a fragile coalition of strong and weak nations. 

Later, Daniel 7 expands on this vision, depicting a beast with ten horns, symbolizing ten kings or nations. Revelation 13 refers to this confederation as the Beast, led by a singular ruler who will dominate the world stage. Many prophecy scholars believe this points to a revived Roman Empire—modern-day Europe—led by a powerful leader known as the Antichrist. For decades, the European Union has sought to unify the continent, yet political and cultural differences have prevented full integration. However, with the threat of Russian aggression and increasing uncertainty regarding America's commitment to NATO, Europe may be forced to accelerate its plans for military and economic unity. Could this be the moment when the prophetic ten-nation alliance begins to form?  (Read More)

Iran has enough uranium for six nuclear weapons, IAEA warns

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi on Monday informed the organization’s Board of Governor’s that Iran’s 60% level enriched uranium had increased to 275 kilograms, an increase of approximately one full nuclear weapon’s worth per month since December.

Further, the IAEA has found that Tehran has enough 60% enriched uranium which could be quickly converted to the 90% weaponized level, to make six nuclear weapons, if it decided to do so. This is without even taking into account the Islamic Republic’s enriched uranium to 20% and lower levels.

Israeli and some US estimates are that Iran could potentially develop an even larger number of nuclear weapons than the IAE estimates, especially if they made smaller nuclear bombs. Iran’s latest spike in uranium enrichment was its response to the IAEA Board condemning it in November 2024 for nuclear violations.   (Read More)

US backs Israel’s aid suspension after Hamas rejects ceasefire extension

The United States has given its support to Israel’s announcement on Sunday morning that it is suspending all humanitarian aid to Gaza after the Hamas terrorist organization rejected a ceasefire extension proposed by Washington.

“Israel has negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists. We will support their decision on next steps given Hamas has indicated it’s no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire,” U.S. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told Axios on Sunday night.

The European Union condemned Hamas’s refusal to extend Phase 1 of the ceasefire but also warned of the humanitarian impact of Israel’s decision to stop aid shipments. Meanwhile, Qatar, despite its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s move, calling it a violation of the agreement and international humanitarian law. Another mediator, Egypt, also criticized the Israeli decision. “Using aid as a weapon of collective punishment and starvation in Gaza can’t be accepted or permitted,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.  (Read More)

Report: Next potential steps to pressure Hamas include cutting electricity to Gaza, resuming war

Israel is planning to incrementally pile on pressure on Hamas to accept a new proposal extending the ceasefire deal’s first phase and securing the release of all the hostages the terror group is holding, in addition to Sunday’s halt to aid entering the Gaza Strip, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The report says the next stages of Israel’s “maximum pressure” plan, said to have been drafted over the past few weeks, is to again move the Gazan population from northern Gaza to the territory’s south — as had been the case for most of the war — and later, if needed, cutting all electricity to the Strip.

The final planned measure is reportedly a full return to the war, this time with the heavy bombs withheld by the previous US administration as well as the billions worth of arms and military equipment the new administration is sending Israel. (Ed note: no food, no water, or electricity to Gaza)   (Source)

Israel Extends Ability to Call Up 400,000 Reservists Until End of May

Amid the ongoing uncertainty concerning the situation in Gaza and the region generally, Israel’s government on Sunday morning approved an extension of legislation allowing the call-up of 400,000 reservists, according to Hebrew media reports. The decision extends reserve recruitment under Section 8 of the Reserve Service Law, 2008 [Tzav-8].

The government authorized Defense Minister Israel Katz’s proposal to issue an order allowing the head of the Israel Defense Forces Operations Division and the head of Recruitment and Standby to call up to 400,000 reservists for service until May 29, 2025.

The Washington Free Beacon reported on Friday that Jerusalem is preparing to resume the war in Gaza in four to six weeks. This “decisive” campaign, aimed to wipe out Hamas, could be paused if the terrorist group’s leadership agrees to free hostages or agrees to disarm and go into exile, the report added. (Source)

Study: California’s $20 Minimum Wage Hike Sparked Major Job Loss

A study found that Democrat-controlled California saw significant fast food job losses due to its $20 minimum wage. A study by the Berkeley Research Group showed the shift happening between June 2023 and June 2024 when 10,700 jobs were lost, Fox News reported Thursday. In addition, prices at the locations jumped by more than 14 percent. California’s mandate that fast food workers be paid a $20 per hour minimum wage took effect in April even though many worried it would worsen the state’s unemployment and inflation problems, Breitbart News reported.

“While some workers will receive raises, others are likely to lose their jobs to automation or cutbacks. Minimum wage hikes tend to eliminate jobs for the most vulnerable, least-skilled workers in jobs that do not produce enough revenue to support the high wage level,” the article said.

The study said the state’s fast food eateries also upped their automation and technology adoption in light of the higher labor costs, noting that it should not be a shock to anyone that the number of workers in each restaurant was on the downturn. (Read  More)

Smotrich: 'Stopping aid important step in destroying Hamas'

Political-Security Cabinet member and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented this morning (Sunday) on the cabinet's decision to completely stop the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, saying that this is an important step in the right direction.

"The decision we made tonight to completely stop the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas is destroyed or its complete surrender and all our hostages are returned is an important step in the right direction. 'Opening the gates of hell,'" Smotrich said.

The minister added that Israel must now act quickly and lethally against Hamas: "Now we must open these gates as quickly and lethally as possible against the cruel enemy, until complete victory. We remained in the government to ensure this, and God willing, it will be Israel's political echelon decided this morning (Sunday) to halt the transfer of humanitarian aid tot he Gaza Strip after the first phase of the ceasefire concluded overnight. (Read  More)

Israel, Hamas fail in talks as Gaza hostage deal reaches dead end, source tells 'Post'

No progress has been made in the ceasefire talks in Cairo, and Israel is reaching a dead end, a source familiar with the details of the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post Saturday. There were many technical discussions but no results, the source said. Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis held protests demanding that the hostage/ceasefire deal continue.

Israel and mediating countries believe that only the Trump administration can perhaps bring the talks out of the impasse. “When [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff arrives, things may happen. Everyone is waiting for him,” the source said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to convene a meeting on the hostage deal with senior officials and the negotiation team, an Israeli official told the Post. Netanyahu’s meeting regarding the hostage deal finished just after midnight on Sunday morning, after approximately four hours. Hamas is refusing the idea of extending the first phase of the deal, Israeli officials said.  (Read More)

Netanyahu: ‘No more free lunch’ for Hamas

Hamas will no longer receive “free meals,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday, threatening further consequences if the terrorist group refuses to release hostages. “Hamas is currently controlling all the supplies and goods that are being sent to the Gaza Strip,” the premier reiterated in remarks ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. The Islamist organization “is abusing Gazans trying to receive aid; it is shooting at them, and it is turning humanitarian aid into a terrorist budget that is directed against us.

”If Hamas continues its opposition to a ceasefire and hostage release deal during Ramadan and Passover, as proposed by Washington and accepted by Jerusalem, “there will be further consequences—and I will not elaborate on them here,” said Netanyahu.

“Israel is adopting the plan of President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire during the Ramadan and Passover periods. We are fully coordinated with President Trump and his team,” he declared. The premier said that according to the latest figures, “Hamas is currently holding 59 captives: up to 24 alive and at least 35 deceased. We will not give up on any of them, and we are determined to bring them all home.”  (Read More)

Palestinian source disputes Israeli claim that Hamas, PIJ have add'l Syrian front - report

Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have a military presence in Syria, a Palestinian source based in Damascus told Qatari-owned news outlet The New Arab on Saturday. The report came after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar made remarks last Monday, where he said that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are operating in Syria to create an additional front against Israel.Sa'ar made these statements during a meeting with senior European officials in Brussels. He also said the new Syrian government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a "Jihadist Islamist terror group."

The Palestinian source added that such an allegation is a lie made up by Israel "to cover up its plans regarding Syria after the fall of the Assad regime." Later on Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the IAF had struck Syrian regime positions earlier this week after the new government in Damascus attempted to deploy forces in demilitarized zones near Israel’s border. Referring to Syria's new government as a "regime," Katz said that they "attempted to staff positions and outposts, and the air force struck and neutralized them."

Katz added that Israel’s presence in strategic locations in southern Syria would continue indefinitely to prevent any influence from the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as other terrorist attacks that could threaten Israel's security. The minister also said last Saturday that "We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon."  (Source)

As truce enters limbo, Israel gives diplomacy with Hamas one last chance before resuming war

As the status of the Gaza ceasefire entered limbo early Sunday with the formal end of its 42-day first phase, Israel said it would wait an unspecified period of time before taking any action, unveiling details of what it said was an American outline for the release of the remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire.

Minutes after midnight and following a four-hour security consultation with top officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that it was endorsing what it described as a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which would see the ceasefire with Hamas extended through Ramadan and Passover, during which all hostages could potentially be released.

Ramadan, which began Friday night, runs until March 29. Passover ends on April 19. According to Israel’s account of Witkoff’s proposal, half of the remaining hostages — living and dead — would be released on the first day of the extended ceasefire, and the remaining captives would be released at the end of the period if a permanent ceasefire is reached.   (Read More)