For most American families, the Fourth of July is a joyful celebration — grilling burgers in the backyard, watching fireworks light up the summer sky, and reflecting on the freedoms we’re fortunate to enjoy. We honor liberty, independence, and the founding ideals that shape this country.
For our family, it’s a reminder of the freedom that’s been denied to our son for far too long.
Omer is an American citizen — a kind, optimistic, sports-loving 21-year-old who grew up on Long Island. He was the kind of person who lights up a room, instantly makes new friends, and goes out of his way to include everyone. For over 600 days, Omer has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, alongside 49 others. He was taken from his army post on October 7, 2023. And to this day, no deal has brought him home.
The Fourth of July was always one of Omer’s favorite holidays. He loved everything about it — the spirit, the energy, the sense of unity it brought. One of his most vivid memories was joining a small-town Independence Day parade in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, during a cross-country Jewish youth trip. He soaked in the atmosphere — the music, the laughter, the feeling of belonging to something bigger than himself.
Omer had every reason to take a traditional path after high school. He was accepted to SUNY Binghamton and could have started a comfortable American college life. But instead, he chose to serve. He took a gap year in Israel and enlisted as a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. His final post was near the Gaza border, where his mission was to protect nearby civilian communities.
The values we honor on Independence Day — freedom, justice, and human dignity — aren&#8217;t just words we say once a year. They are the foundation of this country. And when those values are threatened — when Americans are held by terrorists for nearly two years — they demand more than celebration. They demand action.
<div id="attachment_942937" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-942937" class="size-large wp-image-942937" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2199158540-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: Ronen Neutra and Orna Neutra speak about their son, Omer Neutra, who was killed by Hamas during a roundtable discussion with the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Three more hostages were released on Feb. 8 as part of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2199158540-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2199158540-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2199158540-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2199158540.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images</div>
We have witnessed America&#8217;s incredible power in recent months. President Trump and his administration have shown that this nation can achieve the impossible when it sets its mind to it. We watched with profound gratitude as they secured the release of so many hostages, including American Edan Alexander. This is what America does — we fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. We are a nation that stands up for the vulnerable. We leave no one behind.
President Trump recently said it&#8217;s time to bring all the hostages home — and time for the war to end. We agree. Immense strength has been shown over the past 21 months. Incredible military achievements against Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Now, it is time for that strength to deliver peace.
But peace cannot begin until every hostage comes home.
There is no real end to the fighting in Gaza while 50 hostages remain in underground tunnels, cut off from the world, and while families like ours live in daily anguish. Peace cannot be built on the backs of unresolved suffering.
This is not a partisan issue. This is not just an Israeli issue. It is an American issue — and a human issue. Omer is one of our own, but so are the other 49 souls still trapped in darkness. If we mean what we say when we salute the flag or sing the national anthem, we cannot remain silent while any innocent person is held by a U.S.-designated terror group.
&#8220;Peace through strength&#8221; isn&#8217;t just a slogan. It&#8217;s a principle — one that must now lead to freedom for the living, dignity for the dead, and closure for families still waiting. The United States has influence, and it has leverage. It has shown it can move mountains when it chooses to act.
We call on President Trump to press regional leaders, allies, and stakeholders to come to the table and finalize a comprehensive deal. Not in phases, not with half-measures — but a deal that brings every hostage home. A deal that leaves no one behind — not the Americans, not the Israelis, not the Thai workers, not the elderly, not the men — every single one.
Omer is not a symbol or a headline. He is a son. A friend. A teammate. A young man who has always stood up for others. In that sense, he represents the very ideals we celebrate each Fourth of July. And he represents every hostage still waiting for freedom.
So this year, as Americans gather in backyards and parks, as fireworks light up the sky and flags wave proudly — we ask you to think of Omer. And of the 49 others still waiting to come home.
Don&#8217;t just wave the flag. Live its meaning. Call your elected officials. Say Omer&#8217;s name. Say all their names. Remind your representatives that freedom is not complete until it reaches every corner of human suffering.
Let this Independence Day be more than a celebration. Let it be a declaration of conviction—and the beginning of the end of this nightmare.
Because freedom means nothing if we stop fighting for those who’ve lost theirs.
* * * 
Orna and Ronen Neutra are the parents of American-Israeli hostage Omer Neutra.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The 2024 Republican National Convention

This July 4th, Freedom Demands We Bring The Hostages Home

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Hamas

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Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old dual citizen who had been fighting as part of the Israeli war effort, met with President Donald Trump today in the oval office after being released by Hamas from a 584-day-long captivity.
He <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/03/us-news/freed-hostage-edan-alexander-welcomed-at-white-house-reveals-his-treatment-in-captivity-improved-after-trumps-election/">credited the president</a> for his release, saying: “I came to thank the person responsible for saving my life. It was deeply moving to be in the White House, the same place where my parents had fought for my release so many times, but this time together with them.”
He also told the president that his captors started treating him better as soon as he came into office.
“They weren’t too afraid of Biden,” Trump replied.
He also asked for Trump’s help in securing the release of the remaining hostages: “I told the most powerful man in the world what I went through, what my friends are enduring, and asked him to continue doing everything in his power.”
“I shared with the president my fear that continued fighting endangers the hostages. I hope he can achieve another historic breakthrough—a comprehensive deal to free all 50 hostages. I told him I am confident he is the person who can make it happen.”
Hamas released Alexander unconditionally in May, in what was seen as a “goodwill gesture” to Trump to get his help in reviving ceasefire talks with Israel.
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Trump is scheduled to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next Monday and said he will be &#8220;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-he-hopes-gaza-ceasefire-will-be-reached-sometime-next-week/">very firm</a>&#8221; with him on the need to end the war. He said that Netanyahu “wants it, too” and predicts that a ceasefire deal can be reached next week.
On Wednesday, Hamas announced it was considering the latest hostage-ceasefire deal proposed by Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy for the Trump administration. Inner sources said that Hamas’ attitude toward it was “<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-he-hopes-gaza-ceasefire-will-be-reached-sometime-next-week/">generally positive</a>.”
Israel’s foreign minister likewise made a statement that Israel wants to resume talks “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-cease-fire-trump.html">as soon as possible.</a>”
Witkoff’s proposal is for Hamas to release 10 living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of 18 deceased hostages in return for a 60 day ceasefire. All hostages would be released if a permanent ceasefire was agreed upon during that time.

Donald Trump

Freed American Hostage Visits White House, Urges Trump To Free Remaining Hamas Captives

Executive

Terrorism

World

Regents of the University of Michigan — who serve unpaid — now have 24-hour security because of threats and harassment from pro-Hamas factions.
UM Regents Jordan Acker, Mark Bernstein, and Sarah Hubbard told <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-859787">The Detroit News</a> that the university assigned them around-the-clock security after their residences were vandalized with pro-Hamas, anti-Israel messages.
“Since Nov. 17, 2023, our regents and executive officers have been subjected to extensive and targeted criminal acts, including vandalism of private residences and businesses,” University spokeswoman Colleen Mastony stated. “These incidents, detailed in a press release, underscore the unacceptable level of threats and harassment directed at our institution’s leaders and their families.”
“We have taken prudent steps to support our regents and executive officers and will continue to rely on our public safety team to continuously assess risk, consult with external law enforcement partners, and allocate resources commensurate with those assessments,” she added.
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“The three regents said they continue to get threats via email and social media, as recently as June 9,” The Detroit News reported, noting that in May 2024, activists erected tents on Regent Hubbard&#8217;s front lawn and left on her doorstep &#8220;scenes of genocide in Palestine.&#8221; Her Instagram account was tagged with the message, “Regents, respond to our demands by the end of your board meeting this Thursday.”
Last December, vandals targeted Regent Acker’s home. Acker, who has three young children, said he has been getting death threats as recently as June 9. Reacting to a jar of urine being thrown through one of his home’s windows, he said, &#8220;Any time your family is being attacked for who you are and for what you believe, I think that&#8217;s a pretty scary moment as an elected official, but it&#8217;s unfortunately the world that we live in these days.&#8221;
“It&#8217;s been really hard on them. It&#8217;s been really hard on my wife. It&#8217;s been really, really hard on my kids, especially my 10-year-old, who was woken up by the glass breaking,” Acker added.
The homes of former President Santa Ono and the university&#8217;s chief investment officer, Erik Lundberg, were vandalized last October. “In March, someone spray-painted ‘Free Palestine’ on the side of UM Provost Laurie McCauley&#8217;s Ann Arbor home,” The Detroit News noted.
“This is something that the university has decided, it&#8217;s important to provide this support to their leadership. So it&#8217;s the regents and it&#8217;s also a number of other leaders at the university that have experienced these threats,” Hubbard said. “I feel that I can have this civil debate with people who have a different opinion than I do, and so it&#8217;s too bad that it has ramped up to this point where we&#8217;re concerned for our safety. It&#8217;s not a concern I have every moment of every day, but it&#8217;s certainly something I worry about because we see it going beyond the vandalism in so many areas around the country and in the world, and we don&#8217;t want to suffer that same result.&#8221;

US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-PROTEST-EDUCATION

Pro-Hamas Activists Trigger 24/7 Security For University Of Michigan Regents

anti-Israel

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House for his first meeting with President Donald Trump since the two leaders delivered a crushing blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
The White House <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1939777535975280850" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed to</a> The Daily Wire that Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House on Monday, July 7, his third presidential meeting since Trump took office in January.
The two leaders are expected to discuss their successful campaign against Iran, the ongoing war with Hamas, and the possibility of expanding the Abraham Accords.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-epa-employee-charged-with-threatening-jews-attempting-to-provide-guns-and-money-to-isis?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=California+EPA+Employee+Charged+With+Threatening+Jews%2C+Attempting+To+Provide+Guns+and+Money+to+ISIS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CALIFORNIA EPA EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THREATENING JEWS, ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE GUNS AND MONEY TO ISIS</a>
The meeting comes after Israel launched the 12-day campaign, “Operation Rising Lion,” in an attempt to remove the threat of a significant number of Iranian ballistic missiles and severely harm Iran’s nuclear program. Before the operation concluded, Trump ordered American forces to strike three key Iranian nuclear sites using Tomahawk missiles and 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs — delivered by B-2 Spirit bombers.
Last week, Trump brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, bringing the conflict to an end but promising to strike again if Iran <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-he-will-absolutely-start-bombing-iran-again-if-they-enrich-uranium-to-high-levels?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+He+Will+%E2%80%98Absolutely%E2%80%99+Start+Bombing+Iran+Again+If+They+Enrich+Uranium+To+High+Levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resumes enriching</a> uranium to high levels.
Trump has signaled his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-slams-israeli-courts-for-prosecuting-netanyahu-let-bibi-go?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Slams+Israeli+Courts+For+Prosecuting+Netanyahu%3A+%E2%80%98LET+BIBI+GO%21%E2%80%99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong support</a> for Netanyahu in recent days by chastising Israeli courts for proceeding with a case against the Jewish state’s leader. Trump drew parallels to his own prosecutions by American courts, calling it a “political witch hunt” and saying that any such proceedings could “interfere” with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas to return the 50 hostages in Gaza.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-is-preparing-attacks-on-american-contractors-helping-distribute-aid-in-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Hamas+Is+Preparing+Attacks+On+American+Contractors+Helping+Distribute+Aid+In+Gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HAMAS IS PREPARING ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CONTRACTORS HELPING DISTRIBUTE AID IN GAZA</a>
“Importantly, he is right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back,” Trump said. “How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING (Cigars, Bugs Bunny Doll, etc.).”
He said that it was “terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu.&#8221;
“The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar [sic] a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel,” Trump added. “We are not going to stand for this. We just had a Great Victory with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the helm — And this greatly tarnishes our Victory. LET BIBI GO, HE’S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!”
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Netanyahu last visited the White House in April to discuss Trump’s new tariff plan and the ongoing war with Hamas. In February, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/netanyahu-heads-to-white-house-to-be-first-foreign-leader-hosted-by-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Trump in the Oval Office, the first foreign leader to do so in Trump&#8217;s second term.

Donald Trump/Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu To Visit The White House

Benjamin Netanyahu

Iran

Trump

The State Department is looking to revoke the visa for Bobby Vylan, a British rap duo whose performance at a festival over the weekend went viral for his virulent anti-Israel lyrics that included a call for death to all Israeli soldiers.
A senior State Department official told The Daily Wire that it is “already looking at revocation” of their visas ahead of a roughly twenty-city tour through the United States, with performances planned in several major cities, including Washington, D.C.
“As a reminder, under the Trump Administration, the U.S. government will not issue visas to any foreigner who supports terrorists,” the senior official said.
Vocalist Pascal Robinson-Foster uses the stage name Bobby Vylan for his punk duo Bob Vylan—a name that nods to legendary Jewish singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who released the pro-Israel song &#8216;Neighborhood Bully&#8217; in 1983.
While performing at England’s annual Glastonbury Music Festival — which was live streamed on the BBC — Vylan incited his crowd of thousands to chant, “Death, death to the IDF.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Death, death to the IDF” chanted from the stage by Bob Vylan in front of 200k people at <a href="https://twitter.com/glastonbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@glastonbury</a>.
Tens of thousands singing happily along.
This is coming to NYC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZohranForMayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#ZohranForMayor</a> <a href="https://t.co/t6vtHVhNQa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/t6vtHVhNQa</a>
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) <a href="https://twitter.com/StopAntisemites/status/1939051372810240348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
“Free, Free Palestine,” Vylan chanted with the crowd at Britain&#8217;s biggest summer music festival. “But have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF! Death, death to the IDF!”
After repeating the chant several times, Vylan referenced another violent slogan: “Hell yeah, from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.”
Following his remarks, StopAntisemitism <a href="https://x.com/StopAntisemites/status/1939324518759116883" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called for</a> Vylan to have his visa revoked ahead of his upcoming concerts in the United States for his Inertia Tour. He currently has concerts scheduled in New York City. Boston, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Tennessee.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-epa-employee-charged-with-threatening-jews-attempting-to-provide-guns-and-money-to-isis?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=California+EPA+Employee+Charged+With+Threatening+Jews%2C+Attempting+To+Provide+Guns+and+Money+to+ISIS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CALIFORNIA EPA EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THREATENING JEWS, ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE GUNS AND MONEY TO ISIS</a>
“The antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded &#8211; his hate is not welcome here,” the StopAntisemitism wrote.
The chair of the Department of Justice’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, Leo Terrell, said his “first call” on Monday morning will be to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Vylan cannot enter the United States.
“These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces, are abhorrent and have no place in any civil society,” Terrell said in a statement. “We understand that Mr. Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, Mr. Terrell’s Task Force will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States.”
Avon and Somerset Police in the United Kingdom <a href="https://x.com/ASPolice/status/1939025011844485405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said they are investigating</a> the duo’s performance and will determine “whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-has-been-clear-for-14-years-that-iran-cannot-have-a-nuclear-weapon?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Has+Been+Clear+For+14+Years+That+Iran+Cannot+Have+A+Nuclear+Weapon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR 14 YEARS THAT IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON</a>
A spokesperson for Lisa Nandy, England’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33514nryy1o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said she</a> “strongly” condemned Vylan’s “threatening comments” and demanded “an urgent explanation” from the BBC regarding its vetting process.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the chants “appalling hate speech.”
In a statement, the BBC conceded that “some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.”
“During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language,” the BBC added.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-is-preparing-attacks-on-american-contractors-helping-distribute-aid-in-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Hamas+Is+Preparing+Attacks+On+American+Contractors+Helping+Distribute+Aid+In+Gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HAMAS IS PREPARING ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CONTRACTORS HELPING DISTRIBUTE AID IN GAZA</a>
Vylan responded to the controversy in an Instagram post on Sunday saying that it is important to “encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
“Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change,” he wrote. “Let them see us marching on the streets, campaigning on the ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”
Liora Rez, the executive director of StopAntisemitism, applauded the State Department preparing to take action against the musician who called for violence against the military of one of America’s strongest allies.
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“StopAntisemitism is committed to doing everything in our power to ensure the United States does not follow the UK’s dangerous descent into institutionalized antisemitism,” Rez told The Daily Wire. “We are grateful to the State Department for swiftly prioritizing this matter and remain confident they will agree that individuals who promote such hatred have no place on American soil.”
Other songs performed at the festival — which was filled with Palestinian flags in the crowd and one on stage, along with the slogan, &#8220;This country was built on the backs of immigrants&#8221; — sent the message that the United Kingdom has already been conquered by immigrants.
&#8220;I hear you want your country back,&#8221; Vylan says. &#8220;Well, shut the f*** up.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The whole crowd is white. Singing about how they’ve been conquered and need to shut the fuck up. <a href="https://t.co/5W8Pebv0ys">pic.twitter.com/5W8Pebv0ys</a>
&mdash; Brent Scher (@BrentScher) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentScher/status/1939321880374104557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At the music festival, Irish rap group Kneecap, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-consider-criminal-charges-after-rapper-leads-death-to-the-idf-chant-at-festival?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Police+Consider+Criminal+Charges+After+Rapper+Leads+%E2%80%98Death+To+The+IDF%E2%80%99+Chant+At+Festival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also performed</a> and chanted “free Palestine,” being embroiled in controversy supporting Hezbollah—including one member who was charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last November, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/glastonbury-bob-vylan-israel-police-d7faf32c07b2ccadf25b29d57a530486" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press.</a>

Bobby Vylan And Marco Rubio

EXCLUSIVE: State Department Looks To Revoke Visa For British Rappers Who Chanted ‘Death To The IDF’

Hezbollah

Marco Rubio

State Department

Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday that Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa — one of the Hamas terrorists who helped to plan the October 7 massacre and train those who carried it out — had been &#8220;eliminated.&#8221;
&#8220;ELIMINATED: eliminated Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa — one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing. Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre,&#8221; read the X post announcing the news. &#8220;As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial &amp; naval attacks against Israelis. The IDF &amp; ISA will continue to locate and eliminate all terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🔴 ELIMINATED: eliminated Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa—one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing.
Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre. As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial &amp; naval attacks against Israelis.
The IDF &amp; ISA will… <a href="https://t.co/pzf7DgQc19">pic.twitter.com/pzf7DgQc19</a>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1939026068499001408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The post included a photo of Issa and several key details about who he was and what he did for the terrorist organization that was based in Gaza.
According to the post, he &#8220;was a key source of knowledge and one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip,&#8221; and he had &#8220;played a significant role in the planning and execution of the October 7th massacre.&#8221;
The IDF also noted that Issa &#8220;was one of the founders of the Hamas military wing&#8221; and had been instrumental in building up the forces in Gaza, where he also &#8220;served as the Head of the Training Headquarters&#8221; and was working to help rebuild operational capabilities that had been compromised by the ongoing war.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
A longer statement from the IDF read, in part, &#8220;Yesterday (Friday), in a joint activity, the IDF and ISA struck and eliminated the terrorist Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in the area of Sabra in Gaza City. Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a senior figure in Hamas’ military wing and was considered one of the founders of the terrorist organization. His current role was Head of Combat Support Headquarters in Hamas’ military wing.&#8221;
&#8220;Throughout the war, and over the past few days, Issa served as Head of the Combat Support Headquarters, and advanced aerial and naval terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip,&#8221; the statement continued.
&#8220;The IDF and ISA will continue to operate to locate and eliminate all terrorists from the different terrorist organizations who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre,&#8221; the IDF concluded.

IDF-Combat-Drone-Unit

October 7th Mastermind ‘ELIMINATED,’ Israel Defense Forces Say

October 7th Mastermind 'ELIMINATED,' Israel Defense Forces Say

Global Politics

Hamas is surveilling and preparing to attack American contractors working for the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to a source familiar with the group’s operations.
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that threats from Hamas against the contractors are a growing concern.
“While the GHF has so far provided upwards of 40 million meals, Hamas is threatening violence — this time to humanitarian workers, which includes Americans, at the GHF sites themselves,” the official told The Daily Wire.
Concerns about a potential Hamas attack come after Hamas assassinated around a dozen Palestinian GHF workers earlier this month while they were taking a bus to aid distribution sites ahead of their first day of work. Seriously injured survivors were reportedly denied treatment at Nasser Hospital, according to GHF.
The senior official warned that Hamas should “be careful not to miscalculate.”
“This administration remains laser focused on Gaza despite other events in the region,” the senior official added.
GHF has been tasked with implementing President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-humanitarian-aid-delivered-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=15&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Sends+Aid+To+Gaza.+Israel+Will+Not+Distribute+It." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump’s Gaza aid initiative</a>, designed to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gazan civilians while preventing Hamas from seizing supplies — a problem that has persisted since the war began following the group’s October 7, 2023 massacre. Since it began operating on May 26, GHF has delivered more than 43 million meals at its four distribution sites.
The sites, which have workers present around the clock, are staffed by Gazans distributing aid, along with American contractors who handle security. While the Israel Defense Forces are not directly involved in the operations, they remain stationed within half a mile to respond quickly in the event of an attack or security threat.
According to the sources, several suspicious men have routinely visited GHF’s distribution sites without taking food, and instead appear to be monitoring GHF workers and their security systems. The sources believe that the military-aged men are part of Hamas and enter the sites to “size up” GHF’s security, weapons, and fighting positions.
Hamas has recently issued threats against American contractors indirectly, using intermediaries including some of the Gazan workers. Sources say there is growing concern that Hamas could employ suicide bombing tactics to target both Gazans collecting food and the American contractors on site. Individuals entering the aid distribution centers are not subject to security screenings due to food urgency levels, and often come within meters of the American personnel.
The American security contractors do not have the authority to detain the suspicious men for questioning and do not share information with the IDF about the suspected Hamas members.
Hamas has routinely, publicly and privately threatened humanitarian workers at the site and people seeking aid, calling them “collaborators” coordinating in “the enemy’s schemes.”
“All collaborators, thieves, and criminal armed gangs are legitimate targets for the resistance units and security,” Hamas said in a joint statement with other Palestinian factions, according to<a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2025/06/12/hamas-kills-at-least-8-aid-workers-ghf-reports-source-claims-hamas-trying-to-disrupt-aid-distribution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the Foundation for Defense of Democracies</a>.
“Hamas views GHF as a threat to its control,” a source familiar with GHF’s operations said. “GHF’s secure delivery model prevents Hamas from diverting, taxing, or controlling aid. By delivering food directly to civilians without interference, GHF undermines Hamas’s grip over the population and its ability to weaponize aid for political leverage.”
According to the GHF, many Gazans who received aid during the organization’s first days in operation said it was the first time they had ever received humanitarian assistance for free — despite the large number of aid trucks entering the region during the conflict. Hamas has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-gunmen-target-palestinian-civilians-from-the-top-of-aid-trucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been documented</a> seizing supplies from those convoys.
To date, the GHF says it has not encountered any major security incidents, and Hamas has not directly challenged the organization at its distribution sites. But sources say the threat to the American contractors remains serious.
The contractors, employed by UG Solutions, are armed, well-prepared, and highly-experienced, as most are former U.S. Special Forces personnel.
Hamas has also attempted to delegitimize the GHF during its final month of operations by using threats to discourage local partnerships and intimidating Gazans to keep them from collecting aid. Some non-profit organizations that had expressed interest in supporting the GHF have backed away due to the threats or chosen to keep their involvement undisclosed for safety reasons.
Following the execution of the Gazan workers, some remaining staff chose to leave the GHF out of fear for their own safety or that of their families. Others have continued working but remain extremely cautious, taking extra security precautions and avoiding Hamas-controlled areas whenever possible.
Additionally, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has worked to undermine the organization by vaguely referencing “aid distribution sites” in reports about violence occurring near United Nations facilities, creating confusion and suspicion about the safety of GHF sites.

Gaza Humanitarian Fund

Hamas Is Preparing Attacks On American Contractors Helping Distribute Aid In Gaza

On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces announced they had recovered the bodies of three Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas who had been held since October 7, 2023.
“The bodies of SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano and Ofra Keidar, who were held hostage for 625 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation,” the IDF announced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Bodies of 3 Deceased Hostages Recovered
The bodies of SSGT Shay Levinson, Yonatan Samerano and Ofra Keidar, who were held hostage for 625 days in Gaza, have been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation.
May their memories be a blessing. <a href="https://t.co/8FUo9XJwXo">pic.twitter.com/8FUo9XJwXo</a>
&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1936715024711450746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Keidar, 71, from Kibbutz Be’eri, was mother of three and the wife of Shmuel Keidar, who was murdered by Hamas in their home, Israel National News <a href="https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410445">reported</a>. “Yonatan Samerano was brutally murdered and abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists, including a UNRWA employee, after fleeing the Nova music festival. Yonatan was 21 years old at the time of his death.”
Levinson, 19, was a tank commander in the “Oz” Battalion and was captured fighting Hamas terrorists on October 7.
 “Yesterday was Yonati’s Hebrew birthday,” Samerano’s father Kobi stated. “On his 23rd birthday, on the very day he was born, our Yonati was rescued in a heroic operation by the brave soldiers of the IDF and the Shin Bet. From the first moment, I believed with all my heart that our army would bring back my son. I never stopped believing, and that’s exactly what happened.&#8221;
“Our hearts are with the Keidar, Samerano, and Levinson families today,” the Hostages Families Forum stated. “Alongside the grief and pain, their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days. We wish to express our deep gratitude to the IDF and security forces who acted with dedication and courage. The return of all the hostages is an essential condition for the process of national healing and recovery.”
&#8220;Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving complete Israeli victory. There is a historic window of opportunity—the significant regional achievements enable Israel to end the war from a position of clear strength. The return of all hostages through a comprehensive deal—this is in Israel&#8217;s interest, this is the next stage, and this is the victory of this war. There will be no victory until the last hostage returns,” the forum added.

Israeli-Hamas conflict

Israeli Forces Retrieve Bodies Of 3 Hostages Killed By Hamas

This Sunday marks my second Father’s Day without my son, Bar. It feels unthinkable to even write that sentence. And yet, it is true.
Over 617 agonizing days and sleepless nights have passed since I last held my son, heard his voice, or felt the warmth of his presence. Bar Kuperstein was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, at the Nova Music Festival, and has been held captive in Gaza ever since, under brutal, inhumane conditions. He is one of 55 hostages still held by Hamas.
This Father’s Day, like the last, arrives with a crushing weight. There is no hug. No smile. No message, no call, no card. Only aching emptiness and the harrowing silence of uncertainty, absence, and despair.
Bar is 23 years old. He is my firstborn, the eldest of five siblings. He is not just my son, he is my heart, my compass, my light. A gentle giant with a kind soul. On that horrific morning of October 7, while rockets flew and bullets tore through the sky at the Nova Music Festival, Bar did not flee. He stayed behind to help. He tended the wounded, calmed the frightened, and helped others escape. He insisted on staying with the injured, even as the gunfire drew closer.
He had a chance to run, but he didn’t take it. That’s who Bar is — brave, selfless, and good to his core.
<div id="attachment_913445" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-913445" class="size-large wp-image-913445" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-1024x576.jpg" alt="Credit: Kupershtein family. Bar Kupershtein." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-10-42-AM-2184-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Kupershtein family.</div>
Bar has always been strong. In 2019, I was severely injured in a car accident while rushing to resuscitate a four-year-old girl as a volunteer medic. I lost my ability to walk and speak. Bar immediately stepped into the space where I could no longer stand and became our family’s rock. At just 18, he helped raise his siblings, supported our home, and brought light into our lives despite the darkness.
But even a young man like Bar cannot survive forever in the darkness of underground tunnels, without food, water, or minimal humanitarian conditions.
Several months ago, we saw a Hamas propaganda video in which Bar appeared silent, frightened, thin and hollow-eyed. My son, the love of my life, buried alive. A survivor who continues to suffer.
Since Bar’s abduction, I’ve made it my mission to be his voice. I’ve spent the past year relearning how to speak — not for myself, but for Bar. Last month, I sat in my wheelchair at the Gaza border, near Kibbutz Nir Oz, and shouted through tears: “Bar! I am speaking again! You can come back!”
To all the fathers celebrating this weekend: I hope you hold your children tight. I hope you tell them how much they mean to you. Because there are fathers like me who can only dream of that embrace.
To the international community, I say this: The lives of our children cannot be negotiable. Their freedom cannot be delayed. We need the world’s moral courage now — to stand with the families of hostages and demand their safe return. Indifference is a form of complicity.
And especially to you, President Trump: you too are a father. You know what it means to protect your children, to love them beyond words. I plead with your heart: Please, help us end this nightmare. We believe you have the power. Help put an end to this war and the suffering on both sides. Use your influence, your strength, your voice — to bring back my son Bar, and the 54 other hostages still held in Gaza.
<div id="attachment_934375" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-934375" class="size-large wp-image-934375" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2216851996-864x576.jpg" alt="TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MAY 28: Barak Oz, the cousin of hostage Tel Kupershtein, hugs Bar's father, Tal Kupershtein, during a press conference with former hostages and families of hostages 600 days after the deadly Oct 7 Hamas attack, on May 28, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The event was attended by former hostages who were taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, as well as family members of current hostages. It is believed Hamas still holds 58 hostages who were among the roughly 250 people originally taken captive. Israel has continued its retaliatory war against in Gaza, where at least 53,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's health ministry. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2216851996-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2216851996-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2216851996-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2216851996.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Amir Levy/Getty Images</div>
No family should endure this. No child should be left to languish in darkness while the world moves on.
If Bar is freed, I will rise from this wheelchair. I will stand with every ounce of strength left in me and walk to him. I will wrap my arms around him and say, “Welcome home, son. You were never forgotten.”
Please bring back the happy in my Father’s Day. Bring back the sunshine of my life.
Bring Bar home. BRING HIM HOME NOW.
* * *
Tal Kupershtein is the father of Bar Kuperstein, who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Tal Kupershtein

All I Want For Father’s Day Is My Son Back

Fathers

Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian terrorist infrastructure have predictably reignited debates about the legality of preemptive self-defense under international law. Let’s dispense with the posturing: these strikes were not only lawful, they were necessary, and there is nothing controversial about what happened — legally, morally, or strategically.
The concept of preemptive self-defense has long occupied a contested space in legal scholarship. Article 51 of the UN Charter affirms that:
<blockquote>Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs&#8230;</blockquote>
Critics argue that this language imposes a strict temporal requirement: self-defense can only begin after an armed attack has already occurred. But this interpretation has always been tenuous — and increasingly divorced from operational realities. The law is not meant to incentivize victimhood, which is why many scholars, more rooted in reality, point out that waiting for a missile to land before acting is not international law — it’s international suicide.
That debate, however, is irrelevant here. Because Israel’s right to self-defense is not merely being invoked preemptively.
For decades Iran has openly vowed to destroy the State of Israel, and they have taken many steps to assure the world that they actually mean it. Since October 7, Iran and its proxy forces — Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and militias in Syria and Iraq — have launched thousands of missiles and rockets at Israeli population centers. Each launch was not merely a political provocation, but a war crime: a direct attack on civilians. Under any reading of Article 51, these constitute armed attacks in the strictest legal sense.
And that brings us to the next question: Once the right to self-defense has been triggered, what exactly are its limits?
Customary international law, particularly as articulated in the Caroline doctrine, imposes two key conditions: necessity and proportionality. As Professor Amos Shapira has explained, the central issue is “the dimensions of the risk created by the adversary and the means reasonably necessary to repel, or remove, that risk.” Likewise, Hans Kelsen rightly warned that a right to self-defense that does not allow for the neutralization of the underlying threat is no right at all.
Israel’s response to persistent attacks falls squarely within this framework. The threat is not hypothetical. It is ongoing, declared, and demonstrated. Iran has openly vowed to destroy the State of Israel. Its proxies act constantly to make good on that promise. In recent days Iran has enriched enough uranium to build 15 nuclear bombs. The existential threat is, as the law requires, “instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation.”
In that context, Israel’s latest actions were proportionate and disciplined. Legally, Israel would have been justified in going much further. But it chose targeted, calibrated strikes instead — demonstrating not only military precision, but also strategic restraint.
Some commentators will nonetheless characterize these operations as escalatory or destabilizing. But that critique inverts the causality. The destabilization began with Iranian aggression. Israel’s actions are a stabilizing response — aimed at restoring deterrence and preventing further loss of life.
History has made one lesson painfully clear: peace is not the product of goodwill gestures or international declarations. It is secured by credible deterrence. The idea of peace through strength — long dismissed by the willfully naive — has never been more relevant. Israel’s recent actions embody this principle. When faced with an implacable adversary whose stated goal is your annihilation, strength is not a provocation; it’s a prerequisite for survival. And demonstrating that strength, responsibly and with restraint, is not just a legal right — it is a moral obligation to one’s citizens and allies.
To be clear, deterrence only works if it is believable. That is why the Israeli response was not just defensive—it was declarative. It sent a message not only to Tehran, but to every state and non-state actor watching: We are not passive targets. We will not wait quietly for missiles to rain down or for uranium to be weaponized. We will act, decisively and proportionately, to protect our people. That is how peace is preserved — not by appeasement, but by the unmistakable resolve to uphold red lines and enforce consequences.
There are only two sides in this war: Those who want to kill millions of innocent people, and those who do not. Each person must choose who they want to stand with. But regardless, the international legal system recognizes the right of states to defend themselves. That right is not a theoretical construct, nor is it a suicide pact. It exists for precisely moments like this one.
If the international community is genuinely committed to law and order, then Israel’s actions should not just be understood. They should be affirmed. In addition, Iranian leaders and regime-aligned institutions have repeatedly issued statements calling for the destruction or downfall of both America and Europe. If anything, the world should say thank you.
* * *
John Spencer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point and host of the &#8221;Urban Warfare Project Podcast.&#8221; He is the co-author of &#8221;Understanding Urban Warfare.” 
Mark Goldfeder is Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and a law professor at Touro University.
Arsen Ostrovsky is a human rights attorney who serves as CEO of The International Legal Forum and senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

United Nations Security Council Meets To Discuss Israel’s Strikes On Iran

Israel’s Preemptive Strikes Were Legal And Necessary. You’re Welcome.

Israel's Preemptive Strikes Were Legal And Necessary. You're Welcome.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Iran Nuclear Deal

United Nations

Hamas attacked a bus on Wednesday night, killing at least eight Gazans working for the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — and injuring several others.
A bus carrying two dozen members of GHF was en route to one of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-torches-bidens-gaza-pier-as-trumps-aid-mission-feeds-a-million-gazans">aid distribution centers</a> west of Khan Yunis when the attack occurred, <a href="https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/1932941422036201908">according to the group</a>. There is a fear that other workers may have been taken hostage, in the assault which the group is calling “an attack on humanity.”
GHF confirmed to The Daily Wire that none of the American contractors were present on the bus during the attack.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/internet-trolls-convince-themselves-that-video-of-gazans-cheering-u-s-aid-is-fake">INTERNET TROLLS CONVINCE THEMSELVES THAT VIDEO OF GAZANS CHEERING U.S. AID IS FAKE</a>
“We condemn this heinous and deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms,” GHF said in a statement. “These were aid workers. Humanitarians. Fathers, brothers, sons, and friends, who were risking their lives every day to help others. 
The attack comes after days of Hamas <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israeli-military-gaza-aid-group-debunk-hamas-claims-of-palestinians-killed-in-strike-at-aid-center">threatening the group’s</a> aid workers and civilians accepting aid. 
“The GHF holds Hamas fully responsible for taking the lives of our dedicated workers who have been distributing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people at the foundation’s sites in central and southern Gaza.”
GHF called on the international community to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-to-show-greta-thunberg-graphic-footage-of-hamas-october-7-massacre?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Israel+To+Show+Greta+Thunberg+Graphic+Footage+Of+Hamas%E2%80%99+October+7+Massacre">condemn Hamas</a> for the “unprovoked attack” against their workers “simply trying to feed the Palestinian people.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-u-s-backed-gaza-aid-centers-see-chaos-thank-you-america-cheers-and-500k-meals-on-day-one?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+U.S.-Backed+Gaza+Aid+Centers+See+Chaos%2C+%E2%80%98Thank+You+America%E2%80%99+Cheers%2C+And+500K+Meals+On+Day+One">WATCH: U.S.-BACKED GAZA AID CENTERS SEE CHAOS, ‘THANK YOU AMERICA’ CHEERS, AND 500K MEALS ON DAY ONE</a>
Earlier on Wednesday, GHF announced that it had its largest daily food delivery total since it began operating about two weeks ago. 
“Today, our team delivered 2.5 million meals to the Palestinian people, our single largest daily food delivery total to date,” interim executive director John Acree said. “My hope is that we will maintain our momentum and continue to provide additional food aid to Gazans. Our operations are improving and I’m encouraged by our ability to provide a significant amount of aid on a daily basis.  It proves that our system is working.”
To date, GHF says it has distributed approximately 16,041,982 meals via about  271,200 boxes.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gazans-flood-the-streets-to-protest-hamas-as-idf-operations-intensify?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Gazans+Flood+The+Streets+To+Protest+Hamas+As+IDF+Operations+Intensify">GAZANS FLOOD THE STREETS TO PROTEST HAMAS AS IDF OPERATIONS INTENSIFY</a>
GHF has been tasked with implementing President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-humanitarian-aid-delivered-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=15&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Sends+Aid+To+Gaza.+Israel+Will+Not+Distribute+It.">Donald Trump’s aid initiative</a>, designed to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gazan civilians while preventing Hamas from seizing supplies — a problem that has persisted since the war began following the group’s October 7, 2023, massacre.
GHF plans to continue scaling up its operations and hopes to collaborate with traditional aid organizations, including United Nations-affiliated groups, by offering its delivery infrastructure to help ensure aid is distributed safely and protected from misuse or theft.
GHF has also faced attacks for the security contractors helping with the aid, who are American military veterans affiliated with Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions. Both companies helped Egyptians with supervising the checking of vehicles passing through southern to northern Gaza in January when the ceasefire went into effect, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-854611">The Jerusalem Post reported.</a>
GHF is operating as an apolitical group in Gaza that works with the IDF and Israeli government for security and logistical purposes to help it distribute the aid.
“GHF is in communication with Israeli officials solely for the purposes of deconfliction and to ensure aid can be delivered safely,” according to a GHF statement. “IDF will not have a presence within the immediate vicinity of the distribution sites.”

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-FUNERAL-HAMAS

Hamas Kills 8 Workers For U.S.-Backed Gaza Aid Program In Bus Attack, Others Feared Kidnapped

Trump Administration

The Israel Defense Forces announced Wednesday that it recovered the bodies of two more Israeli hostages from Gaza.
The IDF announced that it recovered the body of 59-year-old Yair Yaakov from the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip. The other hostage’s name has not yet been released.
Yaakov is believed to have been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, by Islamic Jihad <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm263j1g2rmo">terrorists</a> and taken to Gaza, where his body has remained for over 600 days. In February 2024, the kibbutz announced that Yaakov had been murdered in captivity.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-hostage-edan-alexander-reunites-family?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=American+Hostage+Edan+Alexander+Reunites+With+Parents+After+584+Days+In+Hamas+Captivity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER REUNITES WITH PARENTS AFTER 584 DAYS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY</a>
His partner, Meirav Tal, and his children, Or and Yagil Yaakov—who were 12 and 16 at the time—were also taken, but were released in the November 2023 hostage agreement.
Three <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-recovers-bodies-of-two-american-hostages-in-gaza?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=IDF+Recovers+Bodies+Of+Two+American+Hostages+In+Gaza">other bodies of hostages</a> were recovered in the past seven days, including Israeli-American couple Judith Weinstein-Haggai and Gadi Haggai, as well as Thai national Nattapong Pinta. The recoveries come as Israel and Hamas continue to negotiate a ceasefire, with Hamas using hostage bodies as a bargaining chip.
The body of the father of three was recovered by the IDF troops of the Southern Command and underwent an identification procedure by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the Israel Police, according to the IDF.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/internet-trolls-convince-themselves-that-video-of-gazans-cheering-u-s-aid-is-fake?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Internet+Trolls+Convince+Themselves+That+Video+Of+Gazans+Cheering+U.S.+Aid+Is+Fake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">INTERNET TROLLS CONVINCE THEMSELVES THAT VIDEO OF GAZANS CHEERING U.S. AID IS FAKE</a>
“Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost what is dearest to them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “I thank the fighters and commanders for another successful operation in the sacred mission to return our hostages.”
The return of the two bodies brings the total number of hostages remaining in Gaza to 53.
“We will neither rest nor be silent until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu added. 
About a quarter of Kibbutz Nir Oz’s 400 residents were murdered or taken hostage by terrorists on October 7.
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Yagil mourned his father <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKxVrbDojwt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading">on Instagram</a> on Wednesday.
 “I’m sad to say this – I’m already waiting for your funeral. I knew this day would come,” the teenager wrote. “Thank you to the IDF and <a href="https://www.jpost.com/tags/shin-bet">Shin Bet</a> forces for the rescue. I hope we get the rest in a deal that won’t put soldiers at risk.”
Yaakov’s daughter, Shir, 22, was reportedly saved by terrorists failing to break into her apartment in the kibbutz six times, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857411#google_vignette">reported The Jerusalem Post</a>.
Yaakov was described as a &#8220;humble, simple man, who loved his family and music” and worked in both agriculture and a Kibbutz Alumim garage, by Kibbutz Nir Oz.
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&#8220;This is a much-needed closure, so that we can begin to look forward,&#8221; the Yaakov family said in a statement, reported The Jerusalem Post. &#8220;We thank from the bottom of our hearts the security forces and the brave soldiers who took part in the complex rescue operation. However, we reiterate our position &#8211; the lives of soldiers should not be at stake. The hostages must be returned in a deal that prevents further danger to the soldiers or the captives.&#8221;

Hostage And Missing Families Forum

IDF Recovers Bodies Of Two More Hostages In Gaza: ‘I’m Already Waiting For Your Funeral.’

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