The IDF confirmed to JNS on Sunday that it had detected a missile launch from Yemen, which did not hit near Israeli territory.

This followed reports from local media stating that the Houthis had fired a projectile that struck in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, near the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. The IDF clarified that it was not possible to determine the missile’s intended target.

On March 12, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, threatened to resume attacks on “any Israeli vessel” in nearby maritime routes. His threat came in response to Israel’s refusal to allow aid into Gaza.

On Feb. 28, al-Houthi had issued a similar warning, saying that missile attacks against Tel Aviv would resume if Israel renewed its military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Since Hamas initiated the conflict with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, the Houthis have supported the terrorist group. They have fired more than 100 missile and drone attacks at merchant vessels, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. Additionally, they have fired more than 350 drones and missiles at Israel.

The Houthis ceased their attacks with the start of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on Jan. 19. The 42-day Phase 1 of the truce expired on March 1. There are significant gaps in negotiations for Phase 2 of the truce, with Hamas rejecting a U.S. proposal to extend Phase 1 through Ramadan and Passover.

United Airlines resumed service to Israel this weekend, becoming the first U.S. carrier to return to Tel Aviv after interruptions due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The Chicago-based legacy carrier restarted daily service to Israel from its hub at Newark’s Liberty International Airport on Saturday afternoon, while its daytime return flight to the U.S. departed from Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning.

United will restart its second daily flight on March 29 with nighttime departure times.

Before the war broke out, United offered the largest number of flights to Israel of any U.S. carrier, with 14 weekly flights from the New York area as well as service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

United said last month that it would resume additional flights to Israel based on demand.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines had previously announced that it would renew service to Israel from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in April.

Both airlines are resuming service to Tel Aviv ahead of the high-season Passover and Easter holidays next month, when flights to and from Israel are generally heavily booked.

American Airlines has not announced when it plans to restart service to Israel.

Israel's Arkia Airlines is now offering thrice weekly flights to New York at a set price, while Israir plans to relaunch flights to the Big Apple in the future on a line its serviced last decade.

The moves by United and Delta will effectively end the monopoly Israel’s flagship carrier El Al had on the lucrative transatlantic route through most of the 15-month war, which saw fares skyrocket amid charges of price gouging.

Over the past week, units from the IDF Commando Brigade, including the Duvdevan, Egoz and Maglan units, have carried out operations targeting terrorists across Judea and Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces reported on Saturday.

During these operations, more than 60 individuals wanted for security-related offenses were arrested. Israeli forces also confiscated a substantial cache of weapons, including firearms, explosives and ammunition.

The operations are part of the IDF's ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region. The discovery of explosives in several locations has raised concerns about the continued threat from terrorist groups operating in the area.

The IDF has pledged to maintain its efforts to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and reaffirmed its commitment to securing the region.

The Trump administration has launched a formal investigation into allegations that Columbia University may have hidden foreign nationals targeted for deportation following their participation in pro-Hamas protests.

A senior official at the U.S. Department of Justice, speaking on Friday, announced the opening of the probe. As part of these efforts, federal agents conducted searches in university dormitories and implemented measures against foreign students and activists involved in the demonstrations.

Department of Homeland Security agents conducted searches with a warrant at two university dormitories on Thursday evening. No arrests were made during the searches, and authorities have not clarified whom they were specifically targeting.

On Friday afternoon, American authorities reported developments concerning two individuals connected to the protests. A doctoral student from India studying at Columbia University, whose visa was revoked by the Trump administration, fled the U.S. on a commercial flight. Additionally, a Palestinian woman who was detained during university protests in April last year was arrested by federal immigration authorities in Newark, N.J., for remaining in the U.S. after her visa had expired.

These actions are part of the president's mission to end antisemitism in the country, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Among the preconditions for formal discussions to restore $400 million in federal funding, which the Trump administration is withholding from Columbia University for its failure to respond adequately to Jew-hatred on campus, are banning masks, reforming the admissions process and moving campus discipline directly under the university president.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday morning targeted and killed two Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF, the Islamists were involved in surveillance operations and played a key role in directing terrorist attacks in the Yatar and Mais al-Jabal areas.

The IDF emphasized that these activities by the terrorists breached the established understandings between Jerusalem and Beirut, highlighting a violation of the agreed-upon terms.

On Saturday, the IDF struck a Hezbollah terrorist operating in the area of Kfarkela (aka Kfar Kila) in southeastern Lebanon, the military said.

On Thursday night, the IDF attacked a site in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley used by Iranian-backed Hezbollah to produce “strategic weapons."

The situation in Lebanon remains volatile following the end of the truce on Feb. 18. The ceasefire, which went into effect on Nov. 27, ended more than a year of war, after Hezbollah began attacks on Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas-led massacre in the northwestern Negev.

On Tuesday, Jerusalem and Beirut initiated negotiations toward settling their border dispute.

Representatives of the IDF, the United States, France and Lebanon agreed during a meeting in Naqoura in southwestern Lebanon to establish three joint working groups aimed at stabilizing the region.

The working groups will focus on three main issues: The five strategic points in Southern Lebanon that remain under Israeli control following the expiration of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire; the U.N.-delineated Blue Line border and the 13 territorial disputes between the two countries; and the status of Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

Antisemitism on campus in the United Kingdom has reached a point where Jewish high-schoolers heading to institutions of higher learning have started attending workshops to train for the expected abuse.

Robert Halfon, a former Conservative MP and minister in the Department for Education, after speaking to Jewish students at one workshop two weeks ago, said that levels of intimidation and antisemitism were a “shocking stain on our university system,” The Sunday Times reported on March 14.

In a recent example this month, pro-Palestinian protesters commandeered an event at King’s College London, titled “From Conflict to Connection: Israelis and Iranians in Dialogue.”

The event moderator, a 21-year-old Jewish student who wished to remain anonymous, told The Sunday Times that he hid in a nearby room when anti-Israel protesters burst in.

“It was a legitimate panel discussion that was focused on dialogue, so it is quite telling that it got shut down by the very people who say they don’t want violence,” he said.

Jews are made to feel unwelcome by some other students. “They say 'Zionists off our streets,' but they mean 'Jews off our streets.' It’s like saying breathing is OK, but oxygen is not allowed,” he said.

Universities that have allowed antisemitism to blossom on campus should have their funding cut, Halfon said. He called for Bridget Phillipson, secretary of state for education in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration, to intervene.

“University is supposed to be the happiest years of your life. But Jewish students are frightened to walk from their halls of residence to lectures. And Jewish societies are being advised not to have stalls at freshers’ weeks. What’s going on is disgraceful—it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse,” Halfon said

Analysis by The Sunday Times found anti-Israel student groups lionizing Hamas, praising terrorist “martyrs,” including Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion, and liking images on social media of Hamas terrorists.

Among the examples provided by the paper:

The Students Against Apartheid Coalition at the University of Leeds liked a post referring to “messages from the resistance” and showed a photograph of Hamas terrorists on a stage during an Israeli prisoner release propaganda ceremony. (Ceremonies in which Israeli hostages are paraded before braying Gazans and forced to thank their captors have been roundly condemned.)

The Leeds’ student group also said Palestinians would defeat “Nazi Zionism.” Comparing Israelis to Nazis is a common antisemitic trope.

Action For Palestine at Queen Mary University of London also posted in praise of terrorist “martyrs,” including Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, and Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader in Lebanon, killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Cardiff Students for Palestine captioned an image of Hamas terrorists surrounding Israeli hostages: “Glory To The Resistance.” Among other pictures of terrorists was one surrounded by children with the caption “The resistance will never die.”

At the University of Cambridge, students disseminated a message on Instagram claiming Israel traffics in organs of Palestinians, a modern take on a classic medieval blood libel.

The Sunday Times said its analysis found many other examples of universities across the U.K. where student groups shared Hamas propaganda.

Also, the paper noted that the London School of Economics refused to cancel a launch event for a book critics said provided "a platform” for Hamas.

Helena Cobban, co-author of the book, "Understanding Hamas: And Why That Matters," said she respected Ismael Haniyeh, an assassinated Hamas leader, and that the Oct. 7 terrorist attack focused on military targets.

The Community Security Trust, a British charity engaged in research and security for the U.K.'s Jewish community, said the university societies' online support for terrorism required “urgent, clearly defined disciplinary action.”

Antisemitism on campuses has hit record highs, according to CST.

It reported 325 university-related antisemitic incidents in the last two academic years, a 117% increase over the previous two years.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday night, following an order from President Donald Trump.

The strikes, carried out by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), come in response to ongoing Houthi attacks on American and international vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.

“Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen,” Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Saturday. “They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.”

Shortly after Trump’s statement, CENTCOM confirmed the operation via social media. “CENTCOM forces have initiated a series of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation,” the Command posted.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has seen the Houthis repeatedly attack U.S. and allied vessels in the Red Sea, causing disruptions to global trade. Trump blamed the Biden administration’s previous handling of the situation for allowing the crisis to escalate.

“Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going,” Trump wrote. “It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times.”

The U.S. president directly addressed Iran, accusing Tehran of funding the Houthis and warning of severe consequences. “Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American people, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in presidential history, or worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!”

Trump vowed that the U.S. military would continue using overwhelming force until its objectives were met. “To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY,” he declared. “IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”

As of early Sunday morning, CENTCOM had not disclosed the full extent of the damage inflicted on Houthi forces or any immediate response from the group. However, military analysts suggest this operation could mark a turning point in the conflict, signaling a more aggressive U.S. stance against Iranian-backed militias in the region.

The U.S. State Department re-designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 4. The move came a little more than a month after Trump signed an executive order calling on the department to issue the reclassification.

IDF confirms missile launch from Yemen

The IDF confirmed to JNS on Sunday that it had detected a missile launch from Yemen, which did not hit near Israeli territory.

This followed reports from local media stating that the Houthis had fired a projectile that struck in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, near the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. The IDF clarified that it was not possible to determine the missile’s intended target.

On March 12, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, threatened to resume attacks on "any Israeli vessel" in nearby maritime routes. His threat came in response to Israel's refusal to allow aid into Gaza.

Earlier, on February 28, al-Houthi had issued a similar warning, indicating that missile attacks against Tel Aviv would resume if Israel renewed its military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Since Hamas initiated the conflict with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, the Houthis have supported the terrorist group. They have fired more than 100 missile and drone attacks at merchant vessels, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. Additionally, they have fired more than 350 drones and missiles at Israel.

The Houthis ceased their attacks with the start of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on Jan. 19. The 42-day Phase 1 of the truce expired on March 1. There are significant gaps in negotiations for Phase 2 of the truce, with Hamas rejecting a U.S. proposal to extend Phase 1 through Ramadan and Passover.

The Israeli Air Force carried out a strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on Saturday, targeting a terrorist cell that included operatives disguising themselves as journalists, according to the military.

The strike killed several Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members, including individuals involved in attacks on Israeli forces.

Among those slain was Bilal Mahmoud Fouad Abu Matar, a Hamas terrorist posing as a photographer, and Mahmoud Imad Hassan Aslim from Hamas's Zeitoun Battalion, who had been operating under the guise of a reporter. The IDF said these men were actively engaged in terrorist activities and were using their covers to evade detection.

The targeted cell was operating a drone intended to carry out attacks on Israeli troops. Intelligence reports confirmed that the drone was consistently used by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, including in its most recent operations.

Other terrorists killed in the strike included:

• Mostafa Mohammed Shaaban Hamad—a Hamas terrorist who infiltrated Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
• Mahmoud Yahya Rashdi al-Sarraj—a member of Hamas's engineering unit.
• Suhaib Bassem Khaled Nagar—an Islamic Jihad terrorist who had been released as part of the latest hostage exchange deal.
• Mohammed Alaa Sobhi al-Jafeer—a Hamas operative.

The IDF reiterated its commitment to targeting terrorist threats and preventing attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Also on Saturday, the IDF attacked three terrorists trying to plant explosives near troops operating in the area of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip, the military said.

The IDF on Friday attacked several terrorists attempting to plant bombs close to soldiers in central Gaza. A day earlier, an Israeli Air Force craft struck a group of terrorists trying to lay explosives in the same general area.

The initial 42-day phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which began on Jan. 19, expired on March 1 after the terrorist group rejected a U.S.-backed proposal to extend the truce by an additional 50 days.

Despite the ceasefire’s expiration, Israel has refrained from resuming full-scale military operations in Gaza, instead focusing on diplomatic efforts to secure the release of additional hostages held by Hamas.

Israeli officials have reported progress in negotiations with Hamas in Qatar, raising the possibility of a limited interim agreement. Following a high-level meeting with security officials and negotiators on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the negotiating team to continue talks. The discussions will be based on a proposal from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which calls for the immediate release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages still in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night directed his negotiating team to prepare for renewed hostage-ceasefire talks based on U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff's proposal that seeks the immediate release of 11 living captives and half of the bodies still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The decision was made following a ministerial meeting in Jerusalem, and amid an apparent impasse in negotiations in Doha.

The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed that 35 of the 59 hostages still held by Palestinian terrorists in the Strip are dead. Intelligence assessments indicate that 22 remain alive, while the status of two is uncertain.

The crisis stems from the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people, injured thousands, and led to the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza, triggering a regional war.

US condemns Hamas demands

Witkoff on Friday accused Hamas of stalling negotiations by demanding "impractical" conditions for an extended truce.

“Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire,” Witkoff said. “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Hamas’s terms as “nuts,” reaffirming Washington’s commitment to securing the release of all 59 captives.

“These trades that are being made, they’re ridiculous—400 people for three. These are nuts,” Rubio said at the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec. “We’re dealing with some savages. … These are bad people, terrible people, and we need to treat them as such.”

Hamas offer rejected as 'psychological warfare'

On Friday, Hamas offered to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, 21, along with the bodies of four dual nationals, in an apparent attempt to restart stalled negotiations. Netanyahu dismissed the offer as “psychological warfare.”

“While Israel accepted the Witkoff plan, Hamas persisted in its refusal and did not move a millimeter,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated. “At the same time, [Hamas] continues to employ manipulation.”

Alexander, a soldier from Tenafly, N.J., is the only one of five American hostages in Gaza believed to still be alive.

Israel has agreed to the U.S.-backed proposal, which would extend a ceasefire through Ramadan (ending March 29) and Passover (April 12–19). However, Hamas has rejected the plan, insisting on advancing to a second phase of negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israel is reportedly preparing to resume its military campaign against Hamas in the coming weeks. It has also restricted aid and cut the electricity supply to Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.