Hamas has reportedly been unable to pay its fighters for the past three months, largely due to Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid that have prevented the group from diverting and profiting off supplies. According to a source within the terrorist organization, members of Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, have not received any wages since approximately February the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported. The families of terrorists killed or captured in clashes with Israeli forces are also said to have been denied their customary payments.

Hamas is experiencing what may be the most severe crisis since its founding in 1987, as the far-reaching consequences of its October 7, 2023, assault on Israeli positions in the Gaza Strip continue to unfold—consequences the group likely never anticipated would be so devastating. Sources both within and outside Hamas told Asharq Al-Awsat that the movement has never faced such dire circumstances—not during this war, nor during earlier periods of suppression by Israel or the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s. At that time, Hamas lacked the political and military strength it later amassed, yet its current predicament is seen as far more severe.

Hamas’s future is uncertain, yet with its military and governance capabilities heavily degraded, it persists as a significant actor, supported by Iran and led by a temporary five-member committee. Claims of Hamas’s total collapse should be viewed very cautiously, as it continues to adapt despite losses.

Source:
No Pay, No Murders? Hamas Terrorists Reportedly Unpaid Since February, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 27, 2025

The Israeli government is poised to make a landmark decision that could significantly reshape the residential landscape in Judea and Samaria. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is planning the legalization of 22 communities in the area.

Touted as a major strategic shift, the plan aims to solidify the Jewish presence in the region by formalizing long-established communities and paving the way for new building initiatives.

The most notable development in the proposal is the inclusion of Homesh and Sa-Nur. Homesh would gain formal recognition as an official community, while Sa-Nur—currently uninhabited—would be reopened to Jewish development.

Smotrich stated: “We continue to lead a revolution of normalization and regulation in the settlement enterprise. Instead of hiding and apologizing, we raise the flag, build, and settle. This is another significant step on the road to de facto sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.”

The road to full sovereignty moves forward!! It is wonderful that these Northern Shomron communities will be regulated. However, let’s not forget about the Gush Katif evacuees. While many have successfully rebuilt their lives and livelihoods they still remain deeply affected by the loss of their homes and the overall devastating and humiliating experience of being evacuated by their own people on that fateful day in 2005. They long for HOME and we support their cause.

Source:
20 Years After Gush Katif, Smotrich Advances Plans for 22 New Settlements in Judea and Samaria, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 20, 2025 

The victims of Wednesday’s shooting outside an American Jewish Committee event at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington DC were named by authorities as Yarón Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26.

Israel Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, was at the scene of the terror attack just minutes before two Israeli Embassy employees were murdered late Wednesday night.

In a statement following the attack, Ganz emphasized, “This truly proves that this is not a battle over territory or borders,” he emphasized. “It is a war for our very existence as a people.”

Our horror at this brutal murder – a vicious act of anti-Semitism – is shared by many people around the world right now. We are beyond the point of defining news like this as disturbing or devastating. There are no appropriate words anymore to describe the increased terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people with such brazen and deadly expressions of hatred.

Source:
Yesha Council head narrowly misses DC terror attack: ‘This is a war for our existence’, by Israel National News, May 22, 2025

Two Jewish men in their 20s from northern Israel were arrested recently, on suspicion they carried out espionage operations on behalf of the Iranian government.

In a joint operation carried out by the Shin Bet and the police’s Lahav 433 National Crime Unit, Roi Mizrahi and Almog Atias, both 24 years old and residents of the town of Nesher, north of Haifa, were arrested at the end of April after they allegedly gathered intelligence in Kfar Ahim, a moshav in south-central Israel, where Defense Minister Israel Katz resides.

Initial investigations by Israeli agencies believe the motive of Mizrachi and Atias was for their own financial gain.

This incident is not just part of a larger trend of Iran’s ongoing attempts to recruit Israeli citizens for nefarious intelligence gathering. Mizrahi and Atias were living normal lives as citizens of Israel. Unfortunately, these young men got so greedy that it overwhelmed their patriotism and judgment, leading them to accept Iran’s recruitment offers. As a result, they committed severe security violations that directly threatened Israel’s national security, resulting in their arrest. Their actions highlight a dangerous vulnerability that must be addressed to protect Israel and its citizens.

Source:
2 Israeli men accused of spying on Defense Minister on Iran’s behalf, by World Israel News Staff, May 20, 2025

The Israeli military said Sunday it has launched a new phase of ground operations across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, marking the start of what it calls Operation Gideon’s Chariots, even as negotiations over a possible ceasefire and hostage release continue in Qatar.

Ground forces have so far eliminated dozens of Hamas fighters, dismantled infrastructure both above and below ground, and secured strategic positions within Gaza, according to the military. The IDF said it would “continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip as required, in order to defend Israeli civilians.”

The operation’s goal is clear and that is to eliminate Hamas and establish new civilian authorities in Gaza. Israeli forces plan to remain in captured areas indefinitely to prevent Hamas’s return. Until Israel’s goal for the war is achieved, military operations are ongoing and diplomatic efforts to address the hostage crisis continues.

Source:
Operation Gideon’s Chariots: IDF unleashes major Gaza campaign to finish off Hamas, by Ynetnews, May 19, 2025

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan announced on Sunday that he was moving his office to the site of the May 14 terrorist attack in which a pregnant Israeli woman was murdered, and her husband was wounded.

“Following the severe terrorist attack in which Tzeela Gez, may G-d avenge her blood, was murdered, the office of the council head was moved to an open tent opposite the village of Bruqin,” Dagan wrote in a message to residents on Sunday.

Bruqin “is a hornet’s nest,” Dagan charged. “We expect the government of Israel to carry out military operations here in Bruqin, just like it has belatedly begun to do—at the cost of blood—in northern Samaria.”

Dagan’s bold office move underscores his continued proactive approach to advocating for the legal rights of and mandatory security for Israeli residents in Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Samaria Council head moves office near Arab village in response to terror attack, by JNS Staff, May 19, 2025

On Wednesday night, terrorists opened fire on a vehicle traveling along Highway 446 between Baruchin and Peduel in Samaria. The car was carrying a couple from Baruchin on their way to the hospital for the birth of their child. Tzeela Gez, 30, in advanced stages of pregnancy, was critically wounded in the attack and rushed to Beilinson Hospital while undergoing resuscitation. Despite prolonged efforts by medical teams through the night, she succumbed to her injuries.

In a desperate attempt to save the baby, doctors at Beilinson performed an emergency cesarean section in the trauma room. The newborn required immediate resuscitation and was transferred to Schneider Medical Center. His condition is currently unknown. The husband, Hananel, sustained mild injuries.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, issued a forceful statement on Thursday morning following the deadly attack: “The villages that repeatedly harbor and dispatch terrorists cannot be allowed to continue life as usual. The rule in Burkin and Kafr a-Diq is no different from that of Khan Younes and Rafah. It is no longer acceptable to rely solely on military intelligence. This is an axis from which four terrorist attacks have already been launched—this area must look like Jabalia.”

Dagan called for a harsh response: ⁠“Jewish blood is not cheap. The villages that harbor terrorists must be flattened, like Rafah and Khan Yunis. This route has seen four attacks. It must be cleared.” Bruchin community leader Meital Ben Yosef added: ⁠“We are broken. But we will not surrender. We will build, grow stronger, and stay united.”

Source:
Terrorists Murder Tzeela Gez en Route to Delivery Room; Doctors Battle to Save Her Baby, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 15, 2025

President Donald Trump met on Wednesday in Riydah, Saudi Arabia with Ahmed al-Sharaa at an economic summit hosted by the Saudi government. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also present at the meeting.

Earlier in the summit, Trump had announced his plans to offer sanctions relief to Syria – a move Damascus has indicated it would be willing to make concessions for. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump announced Tuesday.

Al-Sharaa, who led the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in ousting Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, welcomed the sanctions relief, viewing it as a step toward Syria’s recovery. He reiterated his administration’s desire to improve relations with the U.S., emphasizing the need for dialogue and understanding. The meeting underscores a broader regional effort to stabilize Syria and promote peace in the Middle East.

At first glance, this meeting presents promise, however serious challenges remain. The U.S. still designates HTS as a terrorist organization, and Israel views al-Sharaa’s regime with suspicion, particularly due to ongoing military operations in Syria. The full lifting of sanctions and normalization of relations may depend on Syria’s actions in these areas. Trump’s end game is peace, and a diplomatic route to attain that goal. If Syria is serious about peace and achieving the greatness that Trump dangles over them like carrot, then they must fully renounce their jihad/terrorist ways. Only time will tell if the Trump effect brings about the desired development toward normalization of relations and a true and lasting peace in the region.

Source:
Trump meets with Syria’s president, calls for Israel peace deal, by David Rosenberg/World Israel News, May 14, 2025

The War Wounded Forum comprises hundreds of fighters from across the country, including Kibbutz Gadot, Ramat Gan, Kfar Saba, Jerusalem, Beit El, and Tel Aviv, united behind the slogan, “We will not stop the fighting until the war is won.”

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with forum members and declared: “We will occupy Gaza, and our security control will remain there indefinitely. The situation has changed; a decision has been made to go all the way. In the coming days, significant actions will unfold in Gaza—actions that you haven’t seen or heard about until now.”

Netanyahu’s strategy is a calculated response to the challenges posed by Hamas’s refusal to lay down its arms. The effectiveness of Israel’s military strategy and the prospects for a sustainable resolution to the war should not remain ongoing subjects of intense debate and concern. Rather, it should be understood that Israel is fighting for its very survival.

Source:
Netanyahu Vows to IDF War Wounded: We Will Conquer Gaza, Maintain Security Control Forever, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 13, 2025

The Israeli Cabinet voted on Sunday to back a series of “revolutionary” measures aimed at stopping what it said was the Palestinian Authority-led takeover of lands in Judea and Samaria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced.

Sunday night’s vote “nullifies the P.A.’s attempts to seize land in Area C and, under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, will lead to an arrangement for registering land in Judea and Samaria,” stated Katz.

The move “will lead to the strengthening, consolidation and expansion” of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, he continued, adding that the current war proves that “settlement in Judea and Samaria is a defensive shield for population centers in the center of Israel.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the government’s latest decision was part of his “normalization and de facto sovereignty revolution.”

“For the first time, the State of Israel is taking responsibility for the territory as a permanent sovereign, and is beginning the implementation of land registration in Judea and Samaria,” he said.

“Land registration will create legal certainty, enable land reserves for the development of settlements, and prevent P.A. efforts to take control of open areas,” concluded Smotrich, who also holds a post in the Defense Ministry with responsibility for civilian matters in Judea and Samaria.

The Cabinet resolution declares that Ramallah’s attempts to create a land registry in Area C, which according to the Oslo Accords is under Jerusalem’s exclusive control, will no longer hold any legal standing.

Accordingly, P.A. documents—including maps and approvals—will no longer be used in any Israeli legal or administrative processes.

The Jewish state’s defense establishment will also be instructed to take other measures to prevent the continuation of the P.A. land registration campaign, including by blocking Ramallah’s staff from accessing areas, obstructing European Union and other foreign support and issuing a direct demand that Ramallah halt its activities in this regard.

We hope that the next steps will be to take down the illegal structures that have sprung up all over Judea and Samaria and to declare sovereignty over the entirety of the Jewish homeland!

Source:
Israeli Cabinet votes to stop Palestinian takeover of Judea and Samaria, by Akiva Van Koningsveld/JNS, May 12, 2025