THE WORST EVER PERVERSION OF AN AWARD... THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AWARDED TO BARACK OBAMA IN 2009

Trump rips Obama for getting Nobel Peace Prize 'for doing NOTHING but destroying our country'

 

By Ross Ibbetson 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 0, 2025

 

 

 

President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Barack Obama poses with his medal and diploma at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at City Hall in Oslo, Thursday, December 10, 2009 

 

Donald Trump has ripped into Barack Obama for being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize as the president touted his achievement in securing peace in Gaza.

'He got a prize for doing nothing,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he was joined by the Finland PM on Thursday following the historic US-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

Obama received the prestigious award in 2009, eight months into his first term in a decision that shocked the world. Even the liberal New York Times said it was 'very premature' and argued the Nobel 'should have a higher bar.'

'They gave it to Obama for absolutely nothing but destroying our country,' Trump said as he announced that he intends to travel to Egypt for the signing of the deal in the coming days.

'I've stopped eight wars, so that's never happened before — but they'll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn't do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives.' 

The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced at 5am (EST) on Thursday in Oslo, Norway. Trump is a big outsider for the notoriously woke award, with only a 5 percent chance of taking the honor, according to prediction market Kalshi.

The frontrunner is Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms, a community-led network that has provided health aid across the country since war erupted in April 2023. 

Trump announced on Wednesday that he had secured an historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas, defying all expectations despite his proud deal-making track record.

 

President Donald Trump and Finland's President Alexander Stubb meet in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday. Trump told reporters that Obama 'got a prize for doing nothing.'

 

It brings to an end two years of fighting that has seen 70,000 Palestinians killed since the October 7 attack, which left 1,200 people dead and another 250 taken hostage by Hamas. 

The president confirmed the remaining hostages, believed to number around 20 survivors, will be released to Israel on Monday or Tuesday.

'I'll be there,' Trump confirmed.

Chief Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said earlier: 'We have received assurances from the brotherly mediators and the US administration, who have confirmed that the war is completely over.'

He promised that 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israel would be freed, alongside 1,700 Palestinians from Gaza who were arrested since the war began.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet is poised to vote on the deal, which would see all remaining hostages freed within 72 hours of the ceasefire.

'It will be a day of joy,' Trump stated, noting that the Israeli hostages held by Hamas 'should be released Monday or Tuesday.'

Trump said there were still discussions coordinating the release of the hostages.

 

Senator Marco Rubio praises the President's role in the Gaza peace deal, noting that a month ago, no one thought it was possible 

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces

 

He said: 'Getting them is a complicated process. I would rather not tell you what they have to do to get them. There are places you don't want to be.' 

Trump revealed he would travel to the Middle East 'very soon' but that the timing and details were still being worked out.

'It's really peace in the Middle East,' he said, noting that he had proved the skeptics wrong after they believed he would never reach a deal.

The president confirmed he had agreed to speak at Israel's house of representatives. Israeli press tonight reported that he will arrive in Israel on Sunday.

'They've asked me to speak at the Knesset and I've agreed to it. If they would like me to, I would do it,' he said. 

He reminded the public of the atrocities of the October 7, but he also noted that tens of thousands of lives had been lost in Gaza.

'That's big retribution... at some point the whole thing has to stop,' he said.

'We are getting the hostages back on Tuesday, Monday or Tuesday,' Trump told his cabinet, saying the agreement will be signed in Egypt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet convened Thursday evening to approve the deal. 

An Israel government official said a full ceasefire would begin 24 hours after approval, with Hamas then having 72 hours to return all hostages.

Trump also revealed details of the future of the deal, noting that it would not include a proposals forcing Palestinians to leave Gaza while it is rebuilt.  

'Nobody's going to be forced to leave, no — it's just the opposite. This is a great peace plan. This is a plan that was supported by everybody,' he said. 'They're dancing in the streets in many many countries right now.' 

Israeli forces will withdraw to lines controlling about 53 percent of Gaza, an Israeli government spokesman added. The military said it's preparing for the hostages' return and redeployment.

Trump thanked the leaders from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, for coming together to pressure Gaza to make a deal.

'Everything came together,' he said.

Palestinians and Israelis celebrated the news in their respective streets, waving flags and cheering.

'Thank God the war is ended and we are alive,' one Palestinian in Gaza told Fox News. 'Honestly we hope the war does not come back and that this is really the end with no death and destruction afterwards.'

Trump's announcement was the latest development in the fast-moving peace process that began after Rubio dramatically interrupted the President's public remarks about left-wing violence in the United States.

'I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly,' Trump told reporters gathered at the roundtable on Wednesday.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER LETITIA JAMES IS GUILTY OR NOT, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT TRUMP IS DOING THE VERY THING HE BITTERLY ACCUSED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF - WEAPONIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Letitia James slams Trump's 'desperate weaponization' of Justice Department after bombshell indictment and claims his only goal is 'political retribution'

 

By Melissa Koenig and Will Potter 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 9, 2025

 

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James slammed President Donald Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department following her indictment on Thursday

 

Defiant New York Attorney General Letitia James slammed President Donald Trump's 'desperate weaponization' of the Department of Justice following a bombshell indictment accusing her of mortgage fraud.

The attorney general - who has been a major critic of Trump and launched a successful civil lawsuit against him in February 2023 for business fraud - stood tall in a video response to the indictment Thursday evening.

'This is nothing more than a continuation of the president's desperate weaponization of our justice system,' she wrote on X. 

'I am not fearful - I am fearless,' she declared, vowing: 'We will fight these baseless charges aggressively and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights.'

In her video, James also accused the president of 'forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State Attorney General.

'These charges are baseless and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost,' she continued. 

The attorney general went on to tell 'leaders on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this blatant perversion of our system of justice.' 

James has already gained the support of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who wrote that: 'New Yorkers know @NewYorkStateAG James for her integrity, her independence and her relentless fight for justice.'

'What we're seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.' 

 

James is a major rival to President Trump who successfully launched a civil lawsuit against him in February 2024 for business fraud

Attorney General Letitia James sits in the courtroom during the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump at New York Supreme Court, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York.

 

James, who took office in 2019 after running on promises to investigate Trump, was indicted Thursday in federal court in Virginia on one count each of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

She has been under investigation for mortgage fraud since May over documents she filed to take out a mortgage to help her niece buy a home in Virginia. 

Investigators have said that James falsified information on loan documents for a property she owns in Virginia to secure favorable loans. 

The indictment, obtained by the Daily Mail, claims she signed a 'Second Home Rider, which required James, as the sole borrower, to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibits its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership agreement or agreement that requires her to rent the property or give any other person control over the occupancy or use of the property.

'Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of [three],' it continues.

In making the 'misrepresentation,' the prosecutors allege James received a avoided a 0.815 percent higher mortgage rate, resulting in approximately $17,837 in savings over the course of the loan and was able to obtain a seller credit of approximately $3,288.

James now faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture of her properties.

 

Prosecutors allege James falsified information on loan documents for properties she owns in Virginia and New York to secure favorable loans

James was accused of falsifying records to obtain loans for this Norfolk, Virginia property in 2023

 

'No one is above the law,' U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan said in a statement.

'The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of public trust,' she claimed. 'The facts and the law in this case are clear and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.' 

But James' attorneys claim the allegations were related to a single document on her mortgage application that 'mistakenly' said it would be her primary residence. 

The lawyers have released documents they say prove she mistakenly ticked a box to say the Virginia mortgage was for her primary residence. 

This includes an email to her loan originator that made clear, 'this property WILL NOT be my primary residence', according to CNN. 

Former US Attorney Erik Sieber even reportedly resigned from his position after resisting pressure from the White House to bring charges against James and former FBI James Comey.

Sieber was then replaced by Halligan, who has also begun a bombshell prosecution against the former FBI chief.

Sources now tell MSNBC they are bracing for Elizabeth Yusi, a prosecutor from the Eastern Division of Virginia, to also be fired after she said she, too, found no probable cause in the investigation.

 

The indictment against James has been brought by Lindsey Halligan, the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia 

 

James' indictment now comes after she sued the Trump administration to block actions taken by the White House concerning federal funding to New York. 

The attorney general has also frequently been attacked by the president for her civil lawsuit accusing him of business fraud, in which she went after Trump, his adult sons and his real estate empire. 

A New York judge found them liable for fraudulently inflating the value of Trump properties in September 2023, and the president was hit with a $355 million fine. He has since appealed the ruling. 

Meanwhile in April of this year, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Trump ally Bill Pulte, sent a letter to the DOJ, accusing James of falsifying records related to her properties in Virginia and Brooklyn.

The timing of her indictment has now stirred criticism of the Trump administration. 

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat who led the House of Representatives' inquiry that led to Trump's impeachment in 2019 and is now facing his own mortgage fraud investigation, said James' indictment is just part of a 'campaign of vindictive prosecution' by the president against his political enemies, comparing Trump to former President Richard Nixon.

'We had nothing like the kind of brutal, antidemocratic, corrupt abuse of the department that we see under Donald Trump,' he claimed. 'It is truly unprecedented.' 

Sen. Chuck Schumer also declared that James' indictment 'is what tyranny looks like.

'This isn't justice. It's revenge and it should horrify every American who believes no one is above the law,' he said. 

Still, Trump has maintained that the New York attorney general 'is very guilty of something,' saying so in a mid-September Q&A session in the Oval Office with reporters. 

In that same back-and-forth, he expressed his displeasure with Sieber, saying: 'I want him out,' before the prosecutor resigned and was replaced by Halligan, a former White House aide who previously served as the president's defense attorney. 

She had no prior prosecutorial experience. 

The Justice Department has also opened mortgage fraud probes into Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Neither Schiff nor Cook has been charged with a crime, and they both deny wrongdoing. 

SORRY CANDACE AND TUCKER, BUT CHARLIE DID NOT TURN AGAINST ISRAEL

Charlie Kirk ally claims Kirk 'remained a true friend of the Jewish people and the Jewish State to the very end'

 

By Phillip Nieto and Victoria Churchill 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 9, 2025 

 

 

The text messages were initially leaked by Candace Owens early this week

 

A friend of Charlie Kirk released more text messages from a leaked group chat where the Turning Point leader raged about ‘bullying’ Jewish donors.

Prior to his death, Kirk fumed in a group chat that he was considering leaving the ‘pro-Israel cause’ because Jewish Turning Point donors were pulling funding over his links to Tucker Carlson. 

The text messages were initially leaked by Candace Owens early this week, with Turning Point spokesman Andrew Kolvet later confirming the authenticity of the screenshots.

Josh Hammer, a columnist and senior-editor-at-large for Newsweek, released new screenshots that he claims show Kirk ‘remained a true friend of the Jewish people and the Jewish state to the very end.’

Hammer, who was a member of the group chat where Kirk made his controversial comments about Israel, claims Kirk was ‘blowing off steam in a private group chat setting.’

Hours after Kirk sent those messages he joined a Zoom call seeking advice on how to promote Israel on college campuses with Gen Z students.

‘Thank you for your help today guys!’ Kirk sent to the group members, some of whom are pro-Israel. Hammer claims the text messages were sent one day before Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University.

‘The final-ever messages Charlie sent in this WhatsApp chat, which were delivered hours after the deeply out-of-context screenshots that the aforementioned lunatic and others have been discussing this week, make clear that Charlie was deeply grateful for our help,’ Hammer wrote in a post on X.

 

Recently, leaked text messages from a private group chat have called into question Kirk's support for Israel during the final days of his life

Josh Hammer released new text messages showing that Kirk remained a supporter of Israel a day before he was killed

Kirk, 31, was murdered while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in September 

 

‘After our call, he felt more confident and reassured that he could make the case for the Jewish people and for Israel on college campuses.’

Hammer has previously claimed that Kirk’s support for Israel had not wavered before his death. After Owens released the text exchange showing Kirk threatening to leave the pro-Israel cause, Hammer received criticism from right-wing users online.

‘These are literally Charlie's final messages in that WhatsApp chat,’ Hammer noted. ‘Emotions can run high at times, but Charlie Kirk remained a true friend of the Jewish people and the Jewish state to the very end.’

In the initial leaked text messages, Kirk privately complained that a Jewish donor had withdrawn a $2 million investment into the organization because he refused to disinvite Carlson from the upcoming AmericaFest event.

'Just lost another huge Jewish donor,' Kirk wrote. '$2 million a year because we won't cancel Tucker. I'm thinking of inviting Candace.'

'Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this.'

Kirk concludes: 'Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.'

Days after Kirk was murdered, Carlson told his audience that the deceased Turning Point leader disliked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'He did not like Bibi Netanyahu and he said that to me many times and he said to people around him many times. He felt that Bibi Netanyahu was a very destructive force,' Carlson said.

Carlson added that Kirk's criticism of Netanyahu centered around the Turning Point leader's belief that the United States was being used to fight wars on behalf of Israel.

The former Fox News host added that 'there was a small, very intense group who tormented Charlie Kirk until the day he died.'

 

Other text messages from the same group chat show Kirk raging about Jewish donors for pulling funding over his links to Tucker Carlson

Josh Hammer is a longtime friend of Charlie Kirk who helped advise him on how to communicate a pro-Israel message to college students

 

Despite the bombshell text message, Kirk throughout his life remained one of the most pro-Israel voices in Evangelical conservative movement in the Untied States.

The Daily Mail reached out to Owens for a response to latest text messages. A spokesman referred the Daily Mail to public statements made by Owens on the topic. 

Kirk often traveled to Israel for religious and political events years prior to his death. Moreover, he first met his wife Erika in Israel before their romance began.

BEN GVIR'S AND SMOTRICH'S PARTIES WILL REMAIN IN THE GOVERMENT FOR NOW, BUT IF HAMAS REMAINS THEY WILL PULL OUT

Ben Gvir and Smotrich announce their parties will oppose the ceasefire and hostage release deal

 

By Ariela Karmel

 

The Times of Israel 

Oct 9, 2025 

 

 

Otzma Yehudit Party chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir (left) and Religious Zionism Party head Bezalel Smotrich have announced their parties will oppose the ceasefire and hostage release deal

 

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says his Otzma Yehudit party will vote against the first phase of the ceasefire deal announced today, in which Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for all 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Ben Gvir’s party is not exiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition now, but he warns that if Hamas is not dismantled, Otzma Yehudit will “bring down the government.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a fellow far-right leader, likewise announced that his Religious Zionism party would oppose the deal.

The cabinet is currently convening to vote on the deal and is expected to approve it, following a more than three-hour delay over Ben Gvir’s demands regarding the list of 250 Palestinian security prisoners serving life sentences who are slated to be released.

“Our hearts are filled with joy, happiness and excitement that all the hostages are expected to return home,” the minister says in a statement. “But alongside this joy, we must not — under any circumstances — ignore the question of the price: the release of thousands of terrorists, including 250 murderers who are expected to be freed from prisons.”

As a result, he says, Otzma Yehudit cannot vote “in favor of a deal that releases those murderous terrorists, and we will oppose it in the government.”

Ben Gvir adds that he reiterated to Netanyahu that he would not remain in “a government that allows Hamas’s rule in Gaza to continue.”

He says the prime minister assured him this would not happen, but he adds: “If Hamas’s rule is not dismantled, or if we are merely told that it has been dismantled while in reality it continues to exist under another guise — Otzma Yehudit will bring down the government.”

If Ben Gvir and Smotrich exit the current 60-seat government, which lacks a parliamentary majority, it would be left with only 47 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, potentially triggering new elections.

Still, opposition parties have promised Netanyahu a “safety net” to prevent the fall of the government so long as it advances Trump’s Gaza deal.

THE QUESTION REMAINS HOW MUCH FREEDOM WILL ISRAEL HAVE TO PREVENT HAMAS'S RESURGENCE

All you need to know about the Israel-Hamas deal

The deal reached between Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh raises questions, many of which remain unanswered. Can Israel prevent Hamas from regaining its strength? What will the IDF withdrawal look like? Here's a breakdown of what's known so far.

 

by Shachar Kleiman 

 

Israel Hayom

Oct 9, 2025 

 

 

A Hamas terrorist shakes hands with a child during a ceremony for a previous handover of hostages

 

The hostage and ceasefire deal reached in Sharm el-Sheikh raise numerous questions about its details and timeline. Key issues, such as the release of senior terrorists and the depth of Israel's planned withdrawal, have yet to be fully disclosed. 

Likewise, the mediators' complex web of interests, the future of the Gaza Strip, and the reconstruction process remain unclear.

Israel Hayom will attempt to clarify these issues, as much as possible, with what we know so far. 

When will the hostages be released? 

According to President Donald Trump, mediators, and Hamas sources, the release of hostages is expected to begin this coming Monday. Over the weekend, Hamas is supposed to start preparing the hostages in what they call "safe locations." Twenty living hostages are set to be released in one group, in a process expected to take place over a short time span.

Both sides understand that there will be no cynical propaganda ceremonies, unlike in past deals. However, it's unclear whether the terrorist groups will actually comply. The release of deceased hostages is also expected to begin on Monday, but not all will be returned immediately. Hamas claims it must first "locate" some of them, as several were hidden in destroyed areas.

Simultaneously, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will also begin to be released on Monday. On Friday, Israeliswill be permitted to file High Court petitions against specific prisoner releases.

When does the ceasefire take effect?

The ceasefire is to take effect today once the Israeli government approves the deal. In practice, IDF operations have already been scaled back in recent days to a minimum, focusing mostly on defensive measures and preventing the return of civilians to Gaza City.

What does the Trump plan include?

The plan is divided into phases: a full hostage deal followed by a post-war phase. Phase A involves the release of living hostages and the return of at least some of the deceased—ideally all—in exchange for the release of 250 terrorists serving life sentences, approximately 1,700 Gazans detained since October 2023, an end to the war, and a partial IDF withdrawal.

Phase B will focus on matters still under negotiation: disarming the terrorist groups in Gaza, establishing a new governing authority, the deployment of an international force, and continued IDF withdrawal. There are fundamental disagreements, especially over the disarmament clause. While Egypt claims Hamas is willing to transfer its rockets to an Arab entity, Hamas' overseas leadership insists they will retain their weapons until a Palestinian state is established and the "occupation ends."

Who are the prisoners being released?

As previously mentioned, hundreds of terrorists, many with blood on their hands, are slated for release.

There is a dispute between Israel and Hamas over six "senior prisoners": Marwan Barghouti of Fatah, Ahmad Saadat of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and from Hamas, Ibrahim Hamed, Hassan Salameh, Abdullah Barghouti, and Abbas al-Sayed. As of Thursday evening, Israel opposed their release, but Hamas remains hopeful it can secure at least partial approval.

What are the planned withdrawal lines?

In Phase A, Israel will conduct a partial withdrawal to the "yellow line" outlined in Trump's original map, with minor adjustments. This means retreating from densely populated areas while retaining control over about half of the Gaza Strip, including strategic locations like the Philadelphi Corridor and the 70 Ridge. Phase B envisions a broader withdrawal, contingent on reaching further agreements.

What are the mediators' interests in the deal?

Following an Israeli attempt to assassinate senior Hamas operatives in Doha, Qatar received both an apology from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a US guarantee of protection from future strikes. This paved the way for Qatar's return to the mediation process.

Egypt secured the cancellation of the Gaza emigration plan, which had sparked concerns over another wave of refugees into its territory. Cairo is also pushing for an end to Houthi threats against Red Sea shipping lanes, which would allow for renewed traffic through the Suez Canal, one of Egypt's main revenue sources.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is looking to strengthen his defense and diplomatic ties with Trump, especially around arms deals and shared interests in post-war Syria, where a pro-Turkey Islamist government has emerged.

What role are other Arab countries playing?

The United Arab Emirates seeks a post-war role in Gaza and is already involved in several humanitarian projects there under "Operation Noble Knight." The effort helps frame the Abraham Accords as a way to influence Israel.

Saudi Arabia, which spearheaded the international push for global recognition of a Palestinian state, is being offered a pathway toward such a state. However, it remains unclear whether this will be enough to resume normalization talks with Israel. Jordan, meanwhile, is trying to calm its large Palestinian population, which has staged pro-Gaza and pro-Hamas demonstrations.

Will Hamas be able to recover?

Yes. The deeper the IDF withdraws, the more operational freedom the terrorist organization will have: to recruit new operatives, conduct training, appoint new commanders, develop weapons and rebuild infrastructure. This risk is especially pronounced if, as part of Phase B, Israel withdraws from the Philadelphi Corridor. According to Arab media, the Rafah crossing will reopen in both directions, potentially allowing terrorists abroad to return to Gaza.

However, rebuilding will take time. Hamas and other groups have lost tens of thousands of fighters and much of their command structure. The question remains how much freedom Trump's administration and the international community will allow Israel to prevent Hamas' resurgence, including striking at terrorists, senior operatives, and emerging terror infrastructure, or even launching new military operations in the coming years. 

FIAMMA IS WAY TOO OPTIMISTIC ... THE PALESTINIANS REMAIN DETERMINED TO ERADICATE ISRAEL

The day of victory: Israel’s hard-won triumph and a new Middle East

Empowered by a new alliance with the anti-liberal left, Islamists aimed not merely at destroying Israel but at destabilizing the entire democratic order. 

 

By Fiamma Nirenstein 

 

JNS

Oct 9, 2025

 

 

Celebrations at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as negotiators set to sign deal freeing all hostages from Gaza, October 9, 2025

 

Within days, all of Israel’s hostages are expected to return home. The nation, long steeped in anguish, is brimming with cautious hope.

Oct. 9, 2025 will be remembered as one of the landmark days in Israel’s history alongside May 1948, when the newborn Jewish state defied all odds and defeated combined Arab armies that sought its annihilation, and Oct. 16, 1973, when Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir announced that Israeli forces had crossed the Suez Canal, turning the tide of the Yom Kippur War.

Now, nearly two years—734 days—after Hamas’s barbaric assault, Israel stands on the threshold of victory over the most sophisticated and lethal coalition ever arrayed against it: a coordinated axis stretching from Iran to the Gaza Strip, encompassing Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon of more than 150,000 missiles, Syrian and Iraqi militias, and the Houthis to the south. Every piece of this terror architecture was planned for decades under Iran’s direction.

Equally strategic, Israel’s response was conceived in concert with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump understood that without Israel—the Western world’s great defensive wall—the Middle East would explode in jihadist violence that would eventually reach the rest of the world. Empowered by a new alliance with the radical anti-liberal left, Islamists aimed not merely at destroying Israel but at destabilizing the entire democratic order.

Thus, the vision of a renewed and peaceful Middle East converged with the necessity of restoring quiet to Gaza. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined forces—first on the battlefield in Iran, and then through an intensive diplomatic and intelligence campaign. As part of Israel’s side, Ron Dermer, minister of strategic affairs, demonstrated his strategic abilities and diplomatic prowess to make the deal possible. On the U.S. side, senior mediators, including Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser in his first administration, who helped broker the 2020 Abraham Accords, concentrated their efforts on freeing all of the hostages—Hamas’s most prized symbol of power.

When Israeli forces advanced deep into Gaza City, they applied an unprecedented level of pressure on Hamas.

The resulting agreement now foresees the dismantling of the terror group’s offensive capabilities, beginning with its missile stockpiles. The Israel Defense Forces will maintain a presence in more than 53% of Gaza’s territory to ensure that the atrocities of Oct. 7 will not be repeated.

Released terrorists will be barred from Judea and Samaria and, for the most part, from Gaza itself. Yet this is not, strictly speaking, the “total victory” long promised by Netanyahu’s government. The accord stops short of crushing Hamas entirely. Instead, it disarms and deposes the terror regime, leaving Gaza’s future governance to an international coalition of “willing” states and, potentially, a handful of Palestinian technocrats.

The deeper foundation of this peace lies in a bold strategic realignment linking the Arab world with the West. Trump’s ability to rally eight Muslim nations—each for its own reasons—around a common security and economic vision represents a diplomatic feat worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.

A unique case is Qatar. While hosting America’s largest Middle East military base, it also served as the financial and propaganda pillar of global jihad through Al Jazeera. That duplicity collapsed once Israel—just as it had done against Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other Iranian proxies—demonstrated its willingness to strike directly at the sources of terror, even in Doha. The Middle East speaks only the language of strength. Trump leveraged this reality, compelling Emir Al Thani to demand the hostages’ release.

Had the United Nations and the European Union exerted similar pressure, the ordeal might have ended sooner. But it was the surprise offensive into Gaza City that broke Hamas’s resistance and triggered the wave of hostage releases. Military pressure worked, alongside Trump’s promise of a new regional order that isolates Iran while countering the shadow ambitions of Russia and China.

Now, Israel awaits the return of its sons and daughters. Its endurance, courage and moral clarity have once again triumphed over those who seek its destruction—supported, as ever, by the toxic alliance of radical Islam and Western antisemitism.

It is fortunate that Italy maintained some distance from French President Emmanuel Macron’s misguided initiative at the United Nations, proposing yet another Palestinian state rooted in hatred of Israel (though Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said she would consider doing so under certain conditions). The coming peace will not resemble the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which brought PLO chief Yasser Arafat back from exile only to ignite the Second Intifada inside the Jewish state between the years of 2005 to 2005, claiming the lives of more than 1,100, killed by Palestinian suicide bombers on buses, in restaurants and other public areas where Jews and Arabs were going about their daily tasks—not to mention those who suffered injuries that permanently disabled so many people.

This time, jihad will have no citizenship. The new peace will not only transform but defend the Middle East—anchored by an Israel that remains unbroken, vigilant and indispensable to the free world. 

GIVE HAMAS THE BODIES OF THE SINWAR BROTHERS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BODIES OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES

Hamas’s demand for the Sinwar bodies: Preparing for a ‘victory funeral’

The terrorist group understands something its enemies often forget: in modern conflict, perception is power. 

 

By Edith Druyan 

 

JNS

Oct 9, 2025

 

 

Hamas chief in Gaza Yahya Sinwar holds a boy dressed as a Hamas terrorist during a rally in Gaza City, May 24, 2021.

 

The Wall Street Journal revealed this week that Hamas is demanding the bodies of Mohammed and Yahya Sinwar as part of ongoing negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

This is not a bureaucratic or symbolic gesture. It once again exposes what truly drives the terrorist organization: propaganda and perception.
Not human life, not the reconstruction of Gaza, not the future of its people.

Hamas’s goal is purely psychological, to turn even death into a stage for its narrative of resistance and victory.

What does Hamas want?

It wants a spectacle, a “victory funeral.”

It wants to parade the Sinwars’ bodies as martyrs, to dramatize its supposed defiance of Israel, and to broadcast to the Arab world and to Gazans themselves that it has not been defeated.

For Hamas, every such scene is a propaganda triumph. Even when Gaza lies in ruins, its leaders hide underground, and thousands of families have lost everything, the organization clings to images that sustain the illusion of victory.

This is not new. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas has never deviated from this mindset.

It continues to demand, threaten and manipulate humanitarian frameworks to serve its propaganda goals. Every negotiation becomes a stage. Every delay becomes proof of its supposed strength.

Even in its dealings with the United States, and despite Qatari mediation, Hamas plays a double game. It sits at the table pretending to negotiate while simultaneously dictating terms as if it had already won the war.

The deal being discussed in Washington is not an endpoint but the beginning of yet another drawn-out process in which Hamas will extract every ounce of symbolic leverage it can.

How can a terrorist organization that should be humiliated and isolated still manage to impose its narrative on global discourse?

Because Hamas understands something its enemies often forget: in modern conflict, perception is power.

While Israel focuses on military operations, Hamas weaponizes every image, every word and every hint of weakness, turning military defeat into imagined victory.

We have seen this before. Every time Hamas has returned hostages or the bodies of hostages, it has done so as part of a calculated performance.

The return of the Bibas family’s bodies, the mother and her two children, baby Kfir and Ariel, was perhaps the most grotesque example.

The three bodies were displayed publicly on a stage in Gaza, covered with black boxes labeled with their names and photos, as Hamas operatives stood by and announced the return of the blood captives.

The desecration was so extreme that even the U.N. Human Rights Council condemned it as utterly despicable, a violation of basic human dignity and every moral principle.

This is why symbolic gestures matter.

Every concession in tone, every soft diplomatic message, every humanitarian gesture that appears innocent, these are, in Hamas’s eye,s fuel for its propaganda machine.

Hamas is not seeking peace or relief for Gazans; it is seeking to restore its lost prestige in the Arab and Muslim world through spectacle.

Israel and the international community must recognize that this war is not only about territory or hostages, it is about the narrative itself.

When Hamas demands the return of bodies, it is not trying to end suffering. It is preparing for a “victory funeral,” the ultimate act in its grotesque theater of resistance.

KATIE PORTER MAY HAVE JUST BITTEN THE BIG WEENIE

By Bob Walsh

 

 

Katie Porter is, or maybe was, the leading Democrat in the race for governor of the formerly great state of California.  She is a former congresswoman.  Also, to her detriment, she has a really great face for radio.  She is reputed to be nasty and arrogant, especially to her staff, and had a yearly staff turnover rate of over 60%.

She did an interview with Julie Watts of CBS News two days ago.  The first three minutes of it (total length 20 minutes) has gone viral.  In that segment Porter is nasty, unprepared and unpleasant to Watts who merely asked how she intended to get the 40% of Californians who voted for Donald Trump to vote for her.  (She basically said they can fuck off.)

At more or less the same time an old (2021) clip of Porter doing an interview with a Biden staff member resurfaced.  In it she screamed "get out of my fucking shot" at one of her own staffers who walked into the background.   Not a good look.

Allegedly Antonio Villariagosa, former mayor of L.A. land also angling for the Governor's gig, has just spooled up a 3 minute commercial featuring the 3 minute clip of Porter and Watts.  

Additionally the talking heads assert that it is "very likely" that Senator Alex Padilla will run for Governor.  Assuming he does and assuming he wins he would have to vacate his U. S. Senate seat.  He would then (allegedly) appoint Gavin Newsom to the remainder of the term, putting Gavin in a better position to run for President than he is now in. 

ARREST MADE IN PALISADES FIRE

By Bob Walsh

 

Jonathan Rinderknecht

 

Jonahan Rinderknecht, 29, has been charged with starting the devastating Palisades Fire that did a huge amount of damage in L A County in early January of this year, killing 12 people in the process.  The fire destroyed almost 7,000 structures and was not fully contained until January 31.

According to authorities Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on December 31.  He dropped off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, where he once lived.  He then walked up nearby Skull Rock Trail listening repeatedly to a French rap song which includes videos of things being lit on fire.  They believe he set the fire at that time, then tried to call 911 but could not get thru until he got almost all the way back to his car.  He fled in his car, pa

ssed fire engines coming in, then returned to the scene to take video of the fire fighters.  

 

 

 

 

The current theory is that the fire Rinderknecht set on New Year's Eve in fact started back up by itself on January 7.  This was the Palisades fire.

Rinderknecht has no prior criminal history.  He relocated to Florida after the fire and was arrested there yesterday.

GVIR AND SMOTRICH WILL LEAVE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IF HAMAS REMAINS, AND THAT WILL RESULT IN NETANYAHU'S DOWNFALL ... AND THE RELEASE OF 2,000 PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT ISRAEL

Trump announces Gaza peace deal as Israel and Hamas sign off on 'first phase' of landmark plan

 

By Nikki Schwab, Ross Ibbetson and Stephen M. Lepore 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 8, 2025

 

 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupts a summit held by Donald Trump at the White House to hand him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal

 

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the 'first phase' of his proposed peace deal - a substantial step in ending the war in Gaza. 

'This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

'All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen,' he continued. 'BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!' 

Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza. 

Trump later told Reuters that it's 'a great day for the world'.

'The whole world has come together on this one, Israel, every country has come together. This has been a fantastic day,' he said. 'This is a great day for the world. This is a wonderful day, a wonderful day for everybody'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government will convene Thursday to ratify the deal and looked forward to the release of the hostages.

'With God's help, we will bring them all home.' Netanyahu said in a statement.

The note handed by Rubio to Trump appeared on camera as the president read it over. 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first,' it says

President Donald Trump's put out the news in the anticipated Truth Social post, announcing that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the 'first Phase of our Peace Plan'

 

'I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces — thanks to their courage and sacrifice we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for mobilizing for this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. 

'With God's help, together we will continue to achieve all our objectives and expand peace with our neighbors.' 

Hamas thanked Trump, as well as mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for the peace deal which they say provides 'the withdrawal of the occupation, allows the entry of aid and implements a prisoner exchange.'

'We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic and international parties to oblige the government of the occupation to fulfill all the agreement's commitments, and not to allow it to evade or delay implementation of the accords.'

Netanyahu's office said that he and Trump spoke and congratulated each other on the agreement to release all hostages, which Netanyahu's office described as a 'historic achievement.'

According to a statement from the prime minister's office, the conversation was 'warm and moving.' Netanyahu thanked Trump for his 'efforts and global leadership,' while Trump praised Netanyahu's 'determined leadership and the actions he led.'

A senior Hamas official said the group has handed over a list of Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

Zaher Jabarin, who oversees Palestinian prisoners' affairs, said in a statement the list was prepared in accordance with 'the criteria agreed upon in the agreement.'

 

 

An Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, October 7, 2025

He said the group still 'awaiting final agreement on the names,' and that they will be announced 'once the relevant procedures and understandings are completed.'

An Israeli official told CNN that they're preparing for Trump to visit early next week. 

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas late Wednesday while urging all parties to 'abide fully by the terms of the agreement.'

Guterres said that the U.N. will support the full implementation of the agreement and is ready to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been sitting on the border of Jordan and Egypt.

'I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,' he said.

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had interrupted a roundtable Trump was having in the State Dining Room to deliver him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal. 

'I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly,' Trump told attendees. 

The frantically scrawled note was caught on camera. 

 

Netanyahu's office said that he and Trump spoke and congratulated each other on the agreement to release all hostages, which Netanyahu's office described as a 'historic achievement' 

A view of devastation in Shujaiyya, one of the largest and oldest neighborhoods in eastern Gaza City

 

It read: 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first.'

At the same event, Trump confirmed reports that he would head to the Middle East as soon as this weekend. 

He told reporters he would likely travel to Egypt , where negotiations are happening, but expressed an openness to traveling to Gaza as well.

Trump also has yet to travel to Israel during his second term.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip in a statement, saying that Trump would visit Walter Reed on Friday to meet with the troops and receive his annual physical as he's 'considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter.'

There, he would join special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have been attending the talks. 

Prior to Trump's announcement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that he had received 'encouraging' signs and hailed the support of Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal formed the basis of the talks.

Hamas too expressed 'optimism' over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.

Trump's plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas' disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

'The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties,' senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said from the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where talks kicked off on Monday. 

The terror group submitted a list of prisoners it wants to be released in the first phase of the truce 'in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers,' Nunu added. 

In exchange, Hamas is set to release 47 hostages, both alive and dead, that the group had seized during the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken into Gaza as hostages. 

Twenty are believed to still be alive. 

Once the hostages are returned, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans arrested since October 7, including all the women and children. 

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans, the Trump plan says. 

Trump's announcement of a deal comes one day after the second anniversary of that grim day, which kickstarted the present war. 

This will be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war. 

The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down.

The second, in January and February of this year, saw Palestinian militants release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment.

18 MONTHS? ... FORMER HOUSTON POLICE CHIEF ART ACEVEDO WAS FIRED AS MIAMI'S POLICE CHIEF AFTER ONLY SIX MONTHS

Hellhole Oakland plunged into another crisis as police chief who tried to make city safer quits after just 18 months

 

By Emma Richter 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 8, 2025

 

 

Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell announced his resignation on Wednesday after just 18 months in the position  

 

The chief of the Oakland Police Department has resigned after just 18 months in the role. 

Chief Floyd Mitchell, who was appointed in March 2024, announced Wednesday he will be stepping down on December 5. 

'Deciding to resign was not an easy decision, nor was it made in haste,' Mitchell said in a statement. 

'Even as I pen this email to each of you, I am filled with a complex mix of emotions—gratitude, pride, and, above all, a deep appreciation for the work you all do.' 

Mitchell was Oakland's 11th chief since 2013 and sixth since 2020 and vowed to take a firm stance to tackle the city's rampant crime problem.

It is unclear why he is leaving, but Huy Nguyen, the president of the Oakland police union, suggested that his tough approach was unwelcome in the liberal city.

Nguyen told KTVU some were 'questioning whether certain anti-law enforcement factions of the community were ready or open to his honesty, dedication, and support of public safety.' 

Though he was not clear on who the 'factions' were, Nguyen said the Oakland Police Officers Association 'is deeply concerned' about Mitchell's resignation. 

 

Oakland has long been known as a crime-ridden city, but under Mitchell's leadership, he was trying to make it safer for residents. (Pictured: Oakland Police officers investigate a shooting) 

 

'His departure represents another chapter in a troubling pattern of instability at the highest levels of city government and the Oakland Police Department.

'Oakland deserves better. Our police officers deserve steady leadership. And, our residents and businesses deserve a city government that is focused on solutions to keep them safe,' Nguyen said. 

Another source told the outlet Mitchell often made decisions on his own and was 'not very responsive' to the mayor.

Sheng Thao was in charge of Oakland when Mitchell was first appointed and was succeeded by current Mayor Barbara Lee in April 2025.

Others said the decision was due to his impatience with the decades-long federal oversight of the department and the power of the Oakland Police Commission. 

'I don't think he wanted to be a chief in California,' civil rights attorney Jim Chanin said. 

Chanin, who often worked with Mitchell in the ongoing federal oversight agreement, added: 'He seemed to be unhappy here.' 

In September 2024 a federal judge told Mitchell that the department's Internal Affairs division must report to him which irritated the chief, who said that the process would consume a lot of his time.

 

Huy Nguyen, the president of the Oakland police union, said the news of Mitchell's resignation made the Oakland Police Officers Association  'deeply concerned'

 

The only way for the Oakland Police Department to break from the federal oversight would be if it met 50 reforms. It has so far only met 48. 

Crime in Oakland is about 10 times higher than the national average, but under Mitchell's leadership it dropped 29 percent in the first half of 2025. 

In 2024, the city had a violent crime rate of about 3,640 per 100,000 residents. The U.S. recorded an average of approximately 359 per 100,000 residnets that same year. 

He introduced several policies in a bid to clean up the city, many of which were met with criticism. 

Among them included urging officials to amend the department's rules around police chases which required officers to get permission before chasing a criminal at high speeds on city streets.

Governor Gavin Newsom backed Mitchell on the proposal, both acknowledging that high speed chases create danger for citizens. 

In August, Mitchell and Mayor Lee announced the reduction in crime, but made it clear there was more to come. 

'There is a lot of work still to be done, but what we are doing right now is showing benefits and that's evident in the reduction of the crime that we're seeing. 

'We need to get the word out so people can feel confident about shopping and eating and enjoying themselves,' Mitchell said at the time. 

In September, Mitchell pushed for a change in police pursuit policies, asking that officers be required to get permission before chasing a criminal at high speeds on city streets. 

Mayor Lee thanked Mitchell for his time in the role and credited him for 'significant reductions in crime.' 

 

Mitchell was appointed chief in March 2024 by ousted Mayor Sheng Thao. He was Oakland's 11th chief since 2013 and the crime ridden city's sixth police chief since 2020

A homeless encampment is seen on the streets of Oakland in April 2024

 

'I want to thank Chief Mitchell for his dedicated service to Oakland and his leadership during a critical time for our city. 

'Under his tenure, we have seen significant reductions in crime - a testament to his commitment to public safety and the hard work of our police officers. 

'I am grateful for Chief Mitchell's collaboration with our administration and his focus on community-centered policing. The women and men of the Oakland Police Department have my full support as we work together to ensure a smooth transition and continue building on the progress we've made for Oakland's residents.' 

The Oakland Police Department said they will work with Lee and City Administrator Jestin Johnson to find an interim chief until a new one is hired. 

Mitchell, who previously served as a police chief in Lubbock, Texas, was ousted Mayor Sheng Thao's final pick after a yearlong search for a replacement to LeRonne Armstrong. 

Armstrong was fired by Thao in February 2023 after a probe ordered by a federal oversight monitor found he mishandled two police misconduct cases. An arbitrator later cleared him of wrongdoing.

He then went on to sue the city, accusing them and the former mayor of 'illegal and retaliatory' termination in a lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court in February 2024.

Half of the lawsuit was dismissed in November 2024 as an independent hearing officer found that Armstrong shouldn't have faced discipline over breakdowns in the department's Internal Affairs division, but disagreed with his claim that OPD's federal monitor created a false case to kick him out. 

 

New Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee (pictured Tuesday) thanked Mitchell for his time in the role and credited him for 'significant reductions in crime' 

 

The new mayor, Lee, recently announced she was taking a shockingly practical approach to rescuing the battered city. 

The 79-year-old progressive firebrand is ramping up police recruitment, clearing homeless encampments, and slashing red tape to secure federal money, all in a bid to reverse years of violent crime, urban decay and political chaos.

Lee has stunned critics and allies alike by embracing a back-to-basics strategy since taking office in April, despite her progressive bona fides.

Her tactics have included reopening long-shuttered firehouses, reinstating high-speed police pursuits, and personally touring blighted streets in a hands-on crackdown on RV encampments and illegal dumping. 

Lee stepped in to finish her term and is now leaning on decades of political clout in Washington - and an unexpected appetite for tough municipal management to stabilize a city that residents feared was slipping into ungovernable chaos.

'Right now, I'm trying to make sure that the city gets more unified,' Lee told the Wall Street Journal from Oakland City Hall. 'That we do the work here.'

____________________

 

ANOTHER OAKLAND POLICE CHIEF GONE

by Bob Walsh

Floyd Mitchell is the Chief of Police in Oakland, CA.  He is leaving the gig in a few weeks.  He will be the ninth chief or interim chief in ten years, many of his recent predecessors having been fired or forced to resign.  He had been there for 18 months.

Mitchell himself was from Texas and Missouri and had never worked in CA before getting the gig in Oakland.  

It was noted that he has been unsuccessful in enlarging the department to its hoped-for staffing.  The department is in fact smaller than it was 18 months ago.  

The hard-core reformers seem happy to see him go, saying that he did not get the new dynamic.  I guess that means he thought locking up criminals was a good thing and letting them run amok was a bad thing.