200 US soldiers arrive in Israel, as Witkoff confirms IDF troops completed first phase of withdrawal from Gaza

Some 200 US soldiers arrived in Israel on Saturday in an effort to ensure the historic peace agreement ending the war in Gaza holds.

“America’s sons and daughters in uniform are answering the call to deliver peace in the Middle East in support of the Commander in Chief’s direction in this historic moment,” Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, said.

“This great effort will be achieved with no US boots on the ground in Gaza.”

The American military isn’t expected to head into the Gaza Strip — but rather coordinate troops that will come from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and manage any heightened tensions with the Israelis.

Part of its role following President Trump’s peace agreement between Israel and Hamas has been described as making sure there are no violations or incursions from either side.

The US army will also set up a center to restart the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, with supplies expected to begin flowing back into the Gaza on Saturday.

Cooper, along with US envoy Steve Witkoff visited an Israeli army post in the Strip Saturday morning to confirm IDF troops were withdrawing as part of the historic cease-fire deal with the terror group, Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported.

“CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time, said Witkoff on X. “The 72-hour period to release the hostages has begun.”

Witkoff and Cooper have since returned to Israel, with Witkoff set to speak at Tel Aviv’s Hostages’ Square Saturday night.

 

Crazy: Qatari Air Force to build a facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho.

 Laura Loomer appears to have reached a breaking point with Donald Trump and the rest of the MAGA movement, declaring that she will not be voting in 2026.

The right-winger known for her anti-Muslim opinions, lashed out on social media Friday in a flurry of online posts, claiming that the GOP was helping to fund the “Islamification” of America.

Her remarks came in response to an announcement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the U.S. will be allowing the Qatari Emiri Air Force to build a facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho.

“I didn’t vote for the Islamification of my country. If the GOP is going to allow Muslims to have military bases on US soil when they know these Qataris are funding HAMAS and the Muslim Brotherhood, then voting in 2026 is a waste of time,” Loomer seethed.

“What the hell is going on? Why are we trying to train more Muslims how to fly planes on US soil? Didn’t we already learn our lesson?” Loomer wrote in a separate post, in apparent reference to the attacks on 9/11.

“Why are we encouraging more Islamic infiltration of our country by the funders of HAMAS and the Muslim Brotherhood? This is very bad for our national security.”

Loomer is known to be an outspoken critic of Qatar and has previously celebrated the deaths of drowning migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The 32-year-old is known to be a close confidante of the president and has become increasingly at loggerheads with members of the MAGA faction, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, whom she also criticized for his connections with Qatar.

Loomer previously dubbed Carlson “Tucker Qatarlson” and claimed he had been bought off by the “Muslim Brotherhood.” “I pity everyone who has fallen for his Islamic propaganda. It’s sickening. He is owned by Muslims,” she wrote at the time.

Hegseth was joined at the Pentagon on Friday by the Qatari Minister of Defense, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for the announcement. Al Thani said he was “honored and excited” to be signing a letter of acceptance for the facility, which demonstrates the deepening ties between the two nations.

“Qatar is one of the largest funders of Islamic terror. Now they are being rewarded by getting a QATARI Air Force Base in Idaho?” Loomer added. “This is outrageous. We are allowing the Islamic enemy to gain so much ground in our country. I will never support this.

She added, “I did not vote for the US to be turned into a Muslim country. I did not vote for jihadi ambassadors. I did not vote for Muslim coalitions in Michigan. I did not vote for Qatari lobbyists to work in the West Wing.

“I didn’t vote for Sharia Law. I’m not voting in 2026!”

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

Nobel Peace Prize Given to an Unknown Dissing Trump

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Has Been Awarded To Maria Corina Machado, Opposition Leader From Venezuela

 

NY Attorney General Letitia James has Finally Been Indicted

The Disgusting Display of Satmar "Tuchis'lekking" the Hitler Running for Mayor

Satmar kissing the devil before he steals their souls!

 Satmar Has Learned Nothing from October 7.

There are moments in history so searing, so unthinkably brutal, that they should shatter illusions. October 7 was one of those moments, but for some, it barely registered.

Take Satmar for example,. to them,the horror—rape, murder, hostages—was someone else’s tragedy. A distant echo. Their detachment isn’t just ideological—it’s emotional. No connection to the victims. No solidarity with the Jewish people.

Take the Kutz family.

The Kutz Family hy"d

 They believed in peace, lived near Gaza, and loved their Arab neighbors. On October 7, all five were murdered—found embracing in their bomb shelter. Murdered by those who they trusted and thought loved them and shared their ideology. Their story should’ve been a wake-up call. Instead? Silence.

Meanwhile,a popular Lakewood WhatsApp chat delivers this gem, in reference to the Satmar "chanfining": 

"I'm no diplomat, but I believe in keeping open lines of communication with everyone." 

 Translation: “I’ll talk to anyone, even if they’re waving a machete, because I'm offering them herring and Yaptcha.”

 The disgraceful Satmar sukkah tour welcomed a mayoral candidate, wearing a 6-part velvet yarmulka —who not too long ago shouted “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea”— as one of the Ushpizin in the Sukka no less, just for some photo ops and zero accountability. 

Why did Mamdani choose Satmar? Because they share an anti-Zionist worldview. It’s not outreach—it’s alignment.

And the kicker? 

Satmar once accused early Zionists of collaborating with Nazis. Now they’re the ones cozying up to politicians whose values clash with Jewish survival and are sympathetic to Hamas! 

This isn’t just politics. It’s about memory. Moral clarity. But these Satmar Romanian gypsies refuse to learn from the Kutz Family tragedy!

Satmar doesn't acknowledge Yom Ha'atzmo'at" they won't even acknowledge Yom Hashoah, they ignore Yom Hazikoron but invite an unabashed, vile antisemite and laugh with him, mocking the memories of the Jews who were gassed, raped and murdered by terrorists that Mamdani looks up to! Shame on Satmar! 

See what the Kaf Hachayim  תרל״ט:ה  writes:

ולא יכניס לתוכה עכו"ם שהסוכה צלה דמהמנותא ועכו"ם לית ליה מהמנותא ואז בורחת הקדושה וז' הצדיקים מקללים קללות נמרצות וכו'. יעויין שם

"He should not bring into it a non-Jew, for the sukkah is Zila De'hamnusa, and the non-Jews do not have Me'hamnusa, and the holiness flees and the seven righteous curse him vigorously, etc. It will be reviewed there. And the Beit Din 4444: ‎"

Now see a comment from a reader:

1. Beis Dovid says:

   October 9, 2025 9:46 pm at 9:46 pm

   Shocking how any Jew can meet this terrorist supporting Islamo-nazi.
   Shocking.
   When they started teaching in their cheider to hate fellow Jews, this is the end result, associate with a modern day Hitler Y.S.
   I now understand why many היימישע קרייזן will not not allow their child to marry anyone from that Kehilah until they do a full Yichus background check. The Shulchan Aruch is very clear רחמנים, ביישנים, וגומלי חסדים. If you are missing even one of the 3, the Yichus is questionable. Here you see people dressed in בגדי יום טוב, inviting a modern day Hitler into a Sukkah!!!
   Shande!!!

2. There is also a strict prohibition in the Torah not to Pander to Evil People,

3.  Here is the Prohibition in Hebrew and in English

4. איסור החנופה הוא חמור מאד, כי החנופה לרשע גורמת לחיזוק הרשע והרשעים, והחלשת הטוב והטובים, אם אפשר מצווה עלינו להוכיח את הרשע על מעשיו הרעים ולמחות בו ואם הוא לא מקבל את דברינו לשונאו ולעשות עימו מחלוקת, איננו אנשי מלחמות, איננו אוהבים להילחם, אך לעיתים אין ברירה ומצווה גדולה להילחם ולהיאבק ברשעים, ומי שלא נאבק עימם ויש לו את הכוח והעוצמה לעשות זאת הוא הופך להיות שותף למעשיהם, 

   אך גם שאין בכוחנו להוכיח, למחות ולהילחם, נצטוונו לכל הפחות שלא לחזק את הרשע בדברי שבח וחנופה. שהרי כל המחניף לרשע מחזקו ומעודדו להמשיך בדרכיו, ונמצא שנעשה שותף בחיזוק הרע בעולם. וזהו שנאמר (משלי יז, טו): "מַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וּמַרְשִׁיעַ צַדִּיק – תּוֹעֲבַת ה' גַּם שְׁנֵיהֶם",

5.  "אנשי האמת הם אלו שעומדים בגבורה כנגד הרשעה, ונזהרים שלא לחלוק על אנשים טובים.

6.  ואלה שיראת השמיים שלהם מזויפת, מנצלים את איסור המחלוקת כדי להחניף לרשעים בעלי עמדה, אבל מוצאים כל מיני צידוקים כדי לעשות מחלוקת "לשם שמיים" כנגד אנשים טובים וישרים שחלשים מהם".

7. ‎The prohibition of flattery is very severe, because flattery to the wicked strengthens the wicked and the wicked, and weakens the good and to those who do good. If possible, we are commanded to rebuke the wicked for his evil deeds and protest against him, and if he does not accept our words, one should at least hate and argue with him, we are not people of war, we do not like to fight, but sometimes there is no choice and a great mitzvah to fight and fight the wicked, and whoever does not fight with them and has the strength and power to do so, he becomes a partner in their actions. ‎

8. 1. ‎But even though we are incapable of chastising, protesting, and fighting, we are at least commanded not to strengthen the evil with words of praise and flattery. For anyone who flatters the wicked strengthens him and encourages him to continue in his ways, then he has become a partner in strengthening evil in the world. This is what is written (Mishlei 17:15): "He justifies the wicked and condemns the righteous – the abomination of the Lord is both."‎

   2. ‎ "The people of truth are those who stand bravely against wickedness, and are careful not to disagree with good people.‎

   3. ‎ And those whose fear of Heaven is fake, and take advantage of the prohibition of discord to flatter the wicked , and find all kinds of justifications in order to create a dispute "for the sake of Heaven" ‎‎against good and honest people who are weaker than them."‎ ‎The prohibition of flattery is very severe, because flattery to the wicked strengthens the wicked and the wicked.‎

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AI doesn’t judge, charge, or keep office hours. But can it really play therapist?

by Sarah Chana Radcliffe

The first time I heard it, I was taken aback. 

“So…” one of my clients began hesitatingly, “I asked ChatGPT how I should resolve my fight with my husband, and this is what it told me.”

It wasn’t long before another client confided that she was turning to AI for advice in between sessions: “I had a whole dialogue with ChatGPT about loneliness and I’m curious what you think about our conversation.”

I couldn’t believe clients were taking their questions to a mechanical therapist. I confess I even felt a pinch of jealousy, like my clients were cheating on me. Another thought surfaced: What if the bot was a better psychologist than I was?

Then curiosity kicked in: What kind of advice and direction was ChatGPT offering? What therapeutic methods did it practice? Was AI’s advice consistent with the therapeutic goals and strategies I was establishing with my clients? What if I felt it was offering bad and/or conflicting advice? Could it be hurting anyone?

When even more clients started casually referencing AI in their sessions, I realized I needed to get to the bottom of what I soon discovered was a global phenomenon.

Pro-Hamas Protestors are led by "Professional Protestors" Paid by Soros to cause Havoc and Chaos

 

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Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt"l on living in Eretz Yisrael.....Is Living in Israel a Torah Mitzvah?

 HaRav Avraham Elkana Shapira zt"l, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and head of the Mercaz HaRav flagship Religious Zionist Yeshiva, passed away on the first day of Sukkot, eighteen years ago, at the age of 93. His son, Rabbi Yaacov Shapira shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Mercaz HaRav in Jerusalem today, says that a few days before his father’s death, he presented him with the Four Species, the Arba Minim, he had purchased for him.

“After examining the Hadasim and Lulav, my father picked up the very large Yemenite (i.e. that is, the kind used by the Yemenite Jewish community,ed.) Etrog, the kind he preferred, which I had brought and which he had to hold in both hands because of its size. People often said the Yemenite Etrog resembled his big heart, with its great love for all of the Jewish People. Half smiling, half sad, he said that he wasn’t sure he would have the merit of performing the mitzvah that year.”

Report: Ceasefire agreement will be signed at 12:00 noon

In photos released from Egypt, members of the Israeli, American, and Qatari delegations can be seen hugging and shaking Hands.

The Saudi channel Al-Hadath reported later that Hamas and Israel will sign a ceasefire agreement on Thursday at 12:00 noon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: "With God's help we will bring them all home".

Earlier Israeli officials reported: "The agreement will be signed later today, with the first release expected either on Saturday or Sunday".

A senior US official told Channel 12 News correspondent Barak Ravid on Wednesday night that "the war in Gaza is over."

The official added that the hostages will be released 72 hours after the Israeli Cabinet approves the agreement. The assessment is that this will occur no later than Monday.

An Egyptian source close to the negotiations told Sky News Arabia, "The agreement includes a complete ceasefire, a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from 70% of the Gaza Strip, and the simultaneous release of hostages and prisoners from both sides".

A Palestinian Arab source told the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "The disputed points in the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh have been resolved, and Trump will announce the agreement soon".

Following the recent reports regarding the hostage deal, Ditza Or, mother of Avinatan who is kidnapped in Gaza, posted the words from Isaiah 52:7 on social media: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation".

Report from a Hamas source to the Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen: Hamas has agreed to the deal. The signing will take place today in Egypt.

Yediot Ahronot Columnist Nadav Eyal related to the reports and wrote on X: "Israelis can’t sleep tonight. They wait, breath held, for the end of a nightmare that began two years ago. Above all, for the agreement that will bring all the hostages home".

Saul Zabar, longtime lox-smith of iconic Upper West Side grocer, dead at 97

 Saul Zabar, who ruled the iconic Upper West Side grocery store bearing his name for more than seven decades, died Tuesday. He was 97.

The so-called lox-smith had been hospitalized with a brain bleed at the time of his death, The Post confirmed.

“A true New York legend. He gave the city lox, love, and a place to argue over babka. Zabar’s isn’t just a store, it’s a slice of NYC soul. May his memory be a blessing,” Mayor Eric Adams posted on X.

The Manhattanite ran his family’s namesake Broadway grocery for nearly the entirety of its 80-year history — and was famously a stickler when it came to the quality of the famed store’s goods.

He fulfilled a role he had never initially intended to take on.

Saul had been studying at the University of Kansas to become a doctor when his father, Louis, suddenly died in 1950 at the age of 49, forcing him to return to the city to help his mother, Lillian, run the family business.

He never left.