Over 10,000 people turned out Sunday for the March of Thousands into the Gaza Strip, demanding Jewish resettlement in the area. The massive crowd, which came from across Israel, walked a mile and a half and gathered near the former community of Elei Sinai in the northern part of the strip. Participants waved Israeli flags and called for the immediate reestablishment of Israeli communities that were evacuated years ago.
Thousands marching: The call for the return of Jewish resettlement in Gaza | Photo: Nahala
Several public officials arrived at the march to support the demonstrators and their demands, including Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Knesset members Osher Shkalim, Ariel Kallner, and Limor Son Har-Melech. March organizers said additional ministers and lawmakers were on their way to the gathering point to publicly back the initiative.
The mass gathering in northern Gaza came with an unambiguous demand that political leadership act immediately to reestablish the communities of Nisanit, Dugit, and Elei Sinai. Organizers and marchers emphasized that the time has come for Jewish resettlement in the Gaza Strip, calling it a necessary and essential step that will change the security reality in the area and restore Jewish presence to the region.
Thousands marching: The call for the return of Jewish resettlement in Gaza | Photo: Nahala
A massive fire erupted in the Jordan Valley, prompting the Israel Fire and Rescue Services to deploy four firefighting aircraft to extinguish it.
The firefighting organization stated: “Following a situation assessment and analysis of terrain conditions and weather, a decision was made to scramble four firefighting aircraft from the “Elad” squadron, being directed by an air support officer in the field.”
Nearby, an arson attack yesterday in Havat Gilad resulted in a large fire, and according to the Binyamin Regional Council, multiple arson attempts have occurred today in the area as well. An Arab arsonist from the village of Sinjil was witnessed setting a fire next to the British Police Junction before fleeing back to his village.
Local Israelis put out the fire. Benyamin Governor and Chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Gantz, stated: “The wave of arson attempts that we are seeing today is not coincidental. This is terrorism in every sense of the word, whose purpose is to harm the residents and the Israeli hold on the ground.”
The Binyamin Regional Council experienced a series of arson attempts throughout the day Sunday, following the torching of Gilad Farm that occurred on Saturday. The latest incident was documented near Tzur Levavi farm, located near the British Police Junction.
The terrorist in action near a farm in Binyamin | Photo: Binyamin Regional Council
Footage from the scene shows a terrorist from the village of Sinjil setting a fire and fleeing back to his village. According to reports from the field, no casualties were reported in the incidents. The fires were quickly extinguished by local residents and security forces who arrived to help put out the flames.
Israel Gantz: “This is terrorism in every sense”
Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz addressed the wave of incidents and emphasized this is no coincidence. “The wave of arson attempts we’re seeing today is not random,” he said. “This is terrorism in every sense, aimed at harming residents and the Israeli hold on the ground.”
Fire at Gilad Farm | Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Flash90
Gantz added that he supports the security forces in their determined action against the terrorists and their handlers, against the backdrop of repeated attempts to harm farms and towns in Binyamin.
As a reminder, during Saturday around 2:00 PM, initial reports were received of a massive fire raging in the Yishai neighborhood area of Kedumim. With the rapid arrival of firefighting and rescue forces to the scene, the outrageous situation became clear: this was not a technical failure or weather damage, but a deliberate and well-planned arson attack.
Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Flash90
Terrorists from the nearby murderous village of Jit arrived at the location and simultaneously ignited four different fire sources with the goal of causing maximum damage and harming human life. Firefighters, together with security forces and many volunteers from the area who were called to the scene, waged a fierce battle for long hours.
Due to the complexity of the incident and the immediate danger to homes, eight firefighting planes and a reconnaissance helicopter were dispatched to the operation to help direct forces from the air. Only after long and nerve-wracking hours was control achieved over the flames, but the images revealed as the fire died down are unbearable and point to massive destruction.
President Isaac Herzog spoke Sunday with Yael Shevach, a resident of Gilad Farm whose home was completely destroyed in a fire that swept through the community. Shevach is the widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered in a shooting attack near Gilad Farm in 2018.
Yael Shevach | Photo: Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90
During the call, the president sought to encourage Shevach and the residents of Gilad Fram who lost their homes. “All of Israel is strengthening you in this difficult time. We love you and your dear family,” Herzog said. “We’re thinking of everyone who lost their home and standing with you.”
Shevach thanked the president for the call. “We’re one of 17 families whose homes burned down completely. We have nothing left, nothing at all,” she said. “It pains me deeply that the tangible memory of Raziel was burned. Thank you for the encouragement and for thinking of us. We’ll stay strong.”
Lt. Col. (res.) Itamar Eitam, a former reserve battalion commander and member of the “Called to the Flag” movement, addressed the growing security tensions with Iran and threats from Lebanon in an interview Sunday morning with Dana Varon.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the third Supreme Leader in the history of the Islamic Republic | photo by: Reuters
Eitam opened by discussing the possibility of direct confrontation with Tehran: “It seems that as time passes and these blows intensify, there will be no escape from another round,” Eitam said, adding: “I hope it will be a decisive round, especially in the context of a fatal blow to this regime.”
Eitam stressed that Israel must focus on the nuclear threat: “The nuclear issue must always be at the forefront of our minds—that’s the main thing and we must not take our eyes off it. It’s possible that the next round will allow us once again to try and diminish these capabilities.”
Photo by: Shutterstock
Regarding the northern front, Eitam warned that Iran may use its proxies to avoid direct confrontation on its own territory: “One of the possibilities we need to consider is that the Iranians will try to respond against Israel specifically in Lebanon. From their perspective, they’re allowing themselves to exact a price, threaten and deter Israel as they see it.” He added that escalation is already visible on the ground: “We already saw last night a return to drone and UAV attacks in certain locations, and that should concern us.”
Israel has been grappling in recent years with a surge in Iranian attempts to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage and sabotage missions through social networks. Dozens of indictments have already been filed against suspects from various sectors, including soldiers, ultra-Orthodox Jews, new immigrants, and Arabs. Now the extraordinary efforts by the security establishment to stem the phenomenon are being revealed—through rabbis and social media influencers.
Espionage for Iran, illustration | Photo: Nati Shohat, Flash 90
In recent months, the security establishment has identified an expansion of Iranian intelligence efforts to recruit Israeli citizens online. According to an extensive report published in The New York Times, one of the unusual steps authorities took was reaching out to senior rabbis in the ultra-Orthodox sector, asking them to warn the public against approaches by Iranian agents.
One of the most prominent is Rabbi Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council with wide influence on social media. In a video he posted, the rabbi called on the public not to respond to offers coming from Iranian elements, emphasizing that this constitutes serious treason that will lead to prison sentences and the destruction of those involved. According to him, the request to publish the warning came after security officials updated him that Iran is recruiting Israelis for espionage purposes.
Rabbi Yigal Cohen’s appeal to ultra-Orthodox youth | Photo: Yediot Bnei Brak
The Iranian method of operation typically begins with simple tasks for money, such as photographing buildings or streets. Later, the demands escalate to collecting intelligence on national infrastructure, military bases, defense systems, or other sensitive targets. Most contact is conducted through the Telegram app, under fake identities.
Among the accused are active-duty and reserve IDF soldiers, Jewish and Arab citizens, immigrants from former Soviet Union countries, and at least nine members of the ultra-Orthodox sector. One prominent case involves an American citizen who was studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem, who was arrested after allegedly photographing sensitive sites for an Iranian handler in exchange for payment. In another case, an IDF soldier was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison after passing documentation of missile interceptions to an Iranian agent during fighting with Iran.
Telegram app | Photo: Shutterstock
One of the most unusual cases involves an ultra-Orthodox computer science student from Beitar Illit. According to the indictment, the young man impersonated an officer in Unit 8200, used artificial intelligence to forge an official military document, and even passed false information to his Iranian handler. Later, with his brother’s help, he gave the agent details of a random Iranian citizen while presenting him as a collaborator with Israel. According to police, the brothers received about 100,000 shekels in cryptocurrency.
The brothers’ defense attorney argued that while contact with an Iranian agent did occur, they didn’t actually help Iran but rather deceived it and passed false information in exchange for money. Police, however, emphasize that the very existence of contact with a hostile entity constitutes a serious security offense, and that even spreading false information could have led to regional escalation.
illustration | Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90
Alongside enforcement activity, Israel is also running an extensive public awareness campaign. Rabbis, media figures, and ultra-Orthodox influencers have been called upon to publish warnings to the public against approaches from Iranian elements. The security establishment believes that raising awareness is one of the main tools for reducing the phenomenon, even though attempts by Iran continue on an ongoing basis.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s declaration that he would work to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the city in September. Waltz made clear the threat won’t materialize due to diplomatic immunity and the fact that the U.S. is not party to the International Criminal Court, emphasizing: “Federal authority supersedes any local mayor’s wishful thinking.”
Following anti-Israel NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s announcement that he is searching for a “legal loophole” that would allow him to order Netanyahu’s arrest, Ambassador Waltz responded Saturday with a sharp rebuke, clarifying that “U.S. federal authority supersedes any local mayor’s wishful thinking.”
Zohran Mamdani | Photo: Shutterstock
In a post on X, Waltz explained why the threat to arrest Netanyahu during the UN General Assembly in New York won’t happen, detailing several key reasons: First, the United States is not party to the Rome Statute that underlies the International Criminal Court. Second, the UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protections to visiting heads of government, including head-of-state immunity. Waltz also emphasized that “federal authority supersedes any local mayor’s wishful thinking” and called Mamdani’s threats “pure political theater.”
Mamdani, who has repeatedly spoken out against Israel in the past, said earlier today that he is in “active conversation” with the city’s legal department to examine whether he has authority to order police to arrest Netanyahu during his visit next September. In an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani said he believes “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s place is in The Hague” and that he is a “war criminal,” but acknowledged he would only act within the authority the law grants him.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also responded sharply, accusing Mamdani of failing to manage the city and choosing to engage in incitement against Israel instead of confronting antisemitism in its streets. Danon added that “if anyone needs to be arrested—it’s Mayor Mamdani himself.” Mamdani had previously pledged to work toward arresting Netanyahu based on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in 2024, even though the United States does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and is not obligated to enforce its decisions.
Following a security situational assessment and against the background of protestors’ intentions to illegally enter the Gaza Strip area during a march planned for tomorrow, it was decided to impose a closed military zone order in the Western Negev region.
“Gaza is ours forever”, protestors for returning to Gaza, Archive footage | Photo: Tzafrir Aviv, Flash 90
The order, signed by the Commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaniv Asor, will take effect this morning and will restrict movement in extensive areas near the border, while providing an exemption for residents and workers of the area.
In an unprecedented development, an Israeli security source has disclosed alleged intelligence details claiming that Iran’s Supreme Leader’s heir is not currently in the country. The source also claims his statements are being written by the former interior minister and the Revolutionary Guards, and that internal tensions in Iran have reached a peak threatening the regime’s stability.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the third Supreme Leader in the history of the Islamic Republic | photo by: Tasnim news agency
Saudi channel Al Hadath published exclusive quotes this morning (Sunday) from an Israeli security source, casting a heavy shadow over the chain of command and political stability in Iran. According to the source, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been designated as the heir, has disappeared from Iran, with messages attributed to him actually being drafted by Ahmad Vahidi and the Revolutionary Guards leadership. The report also emphasizes the depth of internal rifts within Iran’s ruling elite and points to an existential threat to the Revolutionary Guards.
The Israeli security source paints a picture of chaos and instability in Tehran. According to the source, “The messages of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, were written by Ahmad Vahidi and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.” The Israeli source added that “the internal disputes in Iran are deep and threaten the existence of the Revolutionary Guards,” revealing a violent and profound internal power struggle.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the third Supreme Leader in the history of the Islamic Republic | Photo: Reuters
Additionally, the Israeli security source disclosed information about planned revenge attacks: “Iran planned to assassinate Israeli figures in Tel Aviv as revenge for the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”
Alongside the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, the source also noted Washington’s reluctance to be dragged into a regional war: “Washington does not want Tel Aviv to participate in operations even if Iran bombs it.” The source thereby reveals that even in the face of a direct Iranian attack, the U.S. prefers Israel’s response to be moderate and limited, to prevent escalation into all-out war.
Yael Shevach, a media personality and widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered in a 2018 shooting attack, shared the painful news Saturday night on her Facebook account that her home in Gilad Farm burned down completely. “The house is gone. We’re okay, thank you everyone for your concern. I have nothing to say,” she wrote.
Fire at Gilad Farm | Photo: Fire and Rescue
In the early morning hours, standing before the remains of her burned home, Shevach described the difficulty of processing the event that upended her world. “I’m not comfortable. I want to curl up in the ashes that were once my bed.”
The fire left heavy destruction in Gilad Farm. Twenty-six houses burned down completely, businesses were damaged, and five people were injured, including four firefighters who worked for hours trying to control the flames.
“I want to curl up in the ashes that were once my bed”, Yael Shevach’s burnt down home | photo: Yael Shevach’s X page
Residents suspect arson, partly due to reports of multiple fires breaking out simultaneously. However, the official cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Other sources claimed the fire started from a cigarette butt, and that strong winds accelerated its spread toward the towns’s homes.
