Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi militia has signaled that it will limit its maritime attacks in the Red Sea to only Israel-linked vessels, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.

The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center announced that the terror group was "stopping sanctions" on other vessels it has targeted since November 2023, according to the report.

For Israeli ships, the Houthis' attacks will only be stopped "upon the full implementation of all phases” of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that went into effect on Sunday, it added.

"In the event of any aggression ... the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor state," the statement continued. "You will be promptly informed of such measures should they be implemented."

In November 2023, the Houthis announced they would attack any ship associated with the Jewish state. The Shi'ite terrorist organization said it would target all vessels operated or owned by Israeli companies as well as other ships bearing the "flag of the Zionist entity" in the Red Sea.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea called on all countries to withdraw their citizens working as crew members on Israeli ships, avoid working with Israeli freight carriers and steer clear of Israeli vessels.

The Houthis’ decision to target Israeli commercial vessels in the Red Sea was made in light “of what the Gaza Strip is being exposed to from the brutal Israeli-American aggression,” the terrorist spokesman added.

According to the Associated Press report, Houthi terrorists have since targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones.

The Israel Defense Forces has also bolstered its naval presence in the Red Sea area following repeated missile and drone attacks from Yemen.

In an unprecedented break with tradition, Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration will move indoors to the Capitol rotunda on Monday, as severe weather conditions force a dramatic reshaping of the historic ceremony. The event, scheduled for 12:00 noon Washington time (19:00 Israel time), marks the first time in modern history that the full inaugural ceremony will be held inside the Capitol building.

The decision to relocate the ceremony, driven by extreme cold gripping the East Coast, has transformed the usual inaugural arrangements. While the rotunda will accommodate only 700 attendees, thousands will gather at Capital One Arena to witness the ceremony via live broadcast.

Among the confirmed attendees are outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, former presidents Barack Obama and George Bush and an unprecedented gathering of technology industry leaders including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will represent Beijing at the ceremony.

The day's schedule maintains key inaugural traditions despite the venue change. Trump will begin at St. John's Church across from the White House for the traditional prayer service, followed by a meeting with the outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.

The hour-long swearing-in ceremony features carefully selected elements reflecting national unity. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will first administer the oath to incoming Vice President J.D. Vance. Chief Justice John Roberts will then swear in Trump, who has chosen to place his hand on two historically significant Bibles: his personal Bible from 1955 and the Lincoln Bible from 1861, previously used by Barack Obama.

The ceremony brings together religious leaders representing America's diverse faiths, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman of Yeshiva University, Reverend Lorenzo Sewell and Imam Houssam al-Husseini from Dearborn, Michigan. Al-Husseini's participation has drawn attention due to his controversial statements about Israel and support for the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

Musical performances will feature country singer Carrie Underwood performing "America the Beautiful" with the Armed Forces Choir and Naval Academy Choir, while opera singer Christopher Macchio will deliver the national anthem.

Following the inaugural address and Biden's farewell, Trump will proceed to the President's Room for his first official acts, the signing of initial presidential orders. A luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall follows.

The traditional inaugural parade has been relocated to Capital One Arena, adapting to the severe weather conditions. The day concludes with three distinct inaugural balls, each targeting specific constituencies: the Commander-in-Chief's Ball for military personnel, featuring Rascal Flatts and Parker McCollum; the Liberty Ball for Trump supporters, with performances by Nelly, Jason Aldean and the Village People; and the Stars Ball for major donors, headlined by Gavin DeGraw.

The ceremonies follow Sunday's mass rally at Capital One Arena, where Trump appeared alongside celebrities including Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Elon Musk, Hulk Hogan and actor John White. The event notably included a tribute to the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting in which Trump sustained a minor ear injury.

The indoor ceremony, while breaking with tradition, underscores the administration's commitment to proceeding with inaugural celebrations despite challenging weather conditions. The restricted attendance in the rotunda has necessitated careful planning to balance traditional protocols with practical limitations, creating what officials describe as a unique moment in American inaugural history.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Sunday that he had presented pictures drawn by Israeli children held hostage in Gaza to President-elect Donald Trump.

“This week, I met with an Israeli hostage family who had been released from Gaza,” tweeted Cruz. “The beautiful children drew pictures for President Trump, and they asked me to deliver them.”

The senator, who is a staunch defender of Israel and has emerged as a close ally of the president-elect, said that he gave the pictures to Trump on Sunday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that Germany has a responsibility to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.

"I am against turning the page, saying 'that was long ago,'" Scholz told a gathering of the Jewish community in Frankfurt to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Scholz also highlighted the "worrying and alarming normalization" of antisemitism amid Israel's 15-month war against Hamas in Gaza.

"The internet and social networks in particular often become a hotbed for extremist positions, incitement and hatred," the German leader warned.

He noted that such incitement puts citizens' lives in danger, adding that the authorities have a responsibility to protect them.

The Jewish population of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley grew by 12,297 in 2024, according to a report published over the weekend by the Yesha Council umbrella group of Jewish communities.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, 529,704 Israelis live in the territory, amounting to approximately 5.28% of the total population of the Jewish state.

That figure does not include the some 350,000 Jews living in the eastern part of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim despite it being part of the Jewish state’s capital.

The Yesha Council noted that the annual growth of Judea and Samaria's Jewish population is 2.38%—more than twice Israel's national rate. The report also noted that over the past decade, there has been an exceptional 36% increase in the territory's Jewish population.

The report also noted that 13% of all Israeli troops killed during the war sparked by Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack were from Judea and Samaria.

Israel Ganz, who heads the Yesha Council, as well as the Binyamin Regional Council of communities in southern Samaria, said the data showed the "significant work that is taking place in Judea and Samaria."

"Every year, we see how the communities continue to grow and strengthen; a living example of the Zionist vision being realized," he said. "The growth in the communities is not just numbers, but the story of families, communities and pioneers from all over the country who see their place and future in the communities of Judea and Samaria."

Ganz said he expects the government in Jerusalem to "move to the next stage and apply proper sovereignty to this region of the country, and to stop discrimination against the country's dedicated citizens."

This year's report, he added, "emphasizes the role of the pioneers of Judea and Samaria as partners—not only in the forefront of settlement activity but also in maintaining Israel's security on the country's borders."

In 2023, the Jewish population in the territories liberated during the 1967 Six-Day War grew to 517,407, according to a previous report compiled by former Israeli lawmaker Ya'akov Katz based on Interior Ministry data. The January 2024 report projected the Jewish population in the area would reach 613,554 by 2030, 706,233 by 2035 and 1,020,506 by 2047.

In the realm of cinema, where the boundaries between good and evil are sharply drawn and the villains are unmistakably monstrous, one might imagine a collision as stark and tragic as the one currently unfolding in the Middle East. The reality, however, is far from fiction.

The contrast between two societies—one fighting to protect its citizens and the other entrenched in a culture of violence—is painfully evident. The fragile ceasefire brokered to exchange hostages and prisoners has exposed not just a sliver of hope, but also the enduring abyss of hatred that fuels Hamas.

The scenes of joy accompanying the release of Israeli hostages like Romi, Emily and Doron—imprisoned for over a year in the brutal confines of Hamas’s regime—were a bittersweet reminder of human resilience. These young women, held captive in a society that thrives on terror, were finally returned to their families. Yet, their liberation only underscores the broader tragedy. More than 90 other hostages remain in captivity, their fate uncertain as negotiations continue.

Stark realities on the ground

In southern Israel, the rescue helicopters landed on the same grounds where Hamas committed atrocities during the Nova music festival massacre. The joy of the moment could not mask the persistent tension. Israeli soldiers, medical teams and journalists bore witness to the sobering reality: the war is far from over and the ceasefire remains tenuous. Political fractures within Israel, including the resignation of figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, reveal a nation grappling with its democratic values while prioritizing the immediate goal of saving lives.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the atmosphere is chillingly different. The “liberation” of prisoners by Hamas is accompanied by triumphant rallies, orchestrated with the precision of a military parade. Thousands of men, armed and jubilant, crowd the streets, chanting slogans of defiance and displaying the ethos of an organization committed to perpetuating violence. The release of Palestinian prisoners—some of them hardened militants—signals Hamas’s intent to regroup and continue its so-called holy war against Israel.

A ceasefire as a pretext for war

Hamas’s celebrations are not a prelude to peace, but a calculated effort to rearm and reorganize. Despite agreements aimed at demilitarizing Gaza, evidence suggests that humanitarian aid, including truckloads of food and supplies, is being diverted to bolster Hamas’s infrastructure. The militant group has reinstated its control, complete with armed guards, green headbands and military-style parades.

The ongoing release of prisoners—700 in the first phase, potentially rising to 1,700—raises grave concerns. Many of these individuals have been convicted of terrorism and their return to Gaza risks further inflaming the region. Among them are young men likely to embrace the path of martyrdom, perpetuating the cycle of violence that has plagued the area for decades.

The ethical abyss of Hamas’s rule

The ethos of Hamas, marked by hatred, violence, and the subjugation of dissent, continues to dominate Gaza. Reports of ideological purges and the brutal silencing of opposition underscore the regime’s stranglehold on the territory. A lone woman protesting against the celebratory distribution of sweets is a stark reminder of the oppressive environment that stifles even the smallest acts of defiance.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas’s rule in Gaza, but the path forward is fraught with uncertainty. While the international community has called for peace, meaningful pressure to liberate Gaza from the Hamas grip remains elusive. Without global intervention, the people of Gaza risk being perpetually trapped under the shadow of an organization that thrives on war and oppression.

Hope amid uncertainty

As Israel navigates the challenges ahead, the smiles of its rescued daughters serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake. These moments of joy, though fleeting, embody the resilience of a nation determined to protect its people and uphold its values. Yet, the broader question remains: Can the world muster the resolve to address the root causes of this conflict and bring lasting peace to a region that has seen too much suffering? For now, Israel braces for an uncertain future, holding tightly to the hope embodied in the faces of those it has saved.

Israel Defense Forces Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, whose body was recovered from Gaza by Israeli security forces on Sunday, was set to be laid to rest in Porio Illit, just west of the Sea of Galilee, on Monday at 2 p.m.

Shaul fell in combat in the Gaza neighborhood of Shuja'iyya on July 20, 2014, during the IDF's “Operation Protective Edge.” His remains were held by Hamas for more than 10 years.

“I didn’t believe I’d reach this moment. I have chills all over," his mother Zehava told Ynet. "I want to thank all those who made the supreme effort to return Oron to me; what I thought would not happen. Here, it happened. I am very excited. It’s hard for me to even speak. I am very grateful to the prime minister and the defense establishment. I thank all the soldiers ... I hope all the abductees who are still in Gaza will return,” she said.

Oron’s brother, Aviram, said that it was a difficult, bittersweet moment for the family.

“This is closure for the family, that received relief, comfort and peace. We are still not processing [the return of his body], it’s hard to express in words what I'm feeling,” he said.

Israeli security forces retrieved the body in a covert operation in the Gaza Strip that involved special units of the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

Following the operation, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Rassan Alian, and the commander of the Golani Brigade, Col. Adi Ganon, visited Shaul’s family.

Alian, who served as the commander of the Golani Brigade, in which Shaul served, during "Protective Edge," expressed his condolences to the family and emphasized the IDF’s commitment to working toward the return of all abductees currently held captive in the Gaza Strip.

Ganon said, “The Golani Brigade will continue to embrace and support the family. In an emotional closure, forces from Battalion 51 took part in the emotional rescue operation alongside other special forces. The Shaul family, your Oron, our Oron, has returned home.”

According to Israeli estimates, there are 97 hostages still in Hamas captivity in Gaza, including 94 abducted during the Oct. 7 attacks.

Of the 251 hostages taken on Oct. 7, 157 have been returned or rescued, and Hamas is believed to be holding 35 bodies, 34 of them taken on Oct. 7, 2023. Lt. Hadar Goldin's remains were kidnapped by the terror group in 2014.

Some 100 supporters stood with hostages' family members on Sunday in the shadow of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., to call for their safe return from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The rally, planned by The Hostages and Families Forum, an Israeli group representing some of the hostages' families, came a few hours after the first three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire that took effect earlier in the day. 

In frigid conditions that led to cancellation of Monday’s planned outdoor presidential inauguration, the families mainly addressed the media, with passers-by stopping occasionally to ask questions.

“We are dealing with monsters. Hamas is a monster organization,” Liran Berman, older brother of twin captives Ziv and Gali Berman of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, told JNS. “We expect them to do their worst in this deal, but we hope that the international community and the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces will make sure that the deal goes through.”

He expressed concern regarding his brothers, who he said “are running out of time. Every moment that they remain in captivity is another moment their lives are at risk. We have already seen hostages murdered in captivity. We cannot afford to lose even one more.” 

Jonathan Dekel-Chen is the Israeli-American father of Sagui, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Asked whether he has faith that the Trump administration will continue to focus on the hostages over the coming weeks and months, he said he has heard a repeated “absolute commitment” from Trump’s team “to complete this agreement until the final hostage comes home.”

Berman watched the three hostages being released earlier in the morning with a sense of happiness. He said he has known two of the them—Doron Steinbecher and Emily Damari, also residents of Kfar Aza—“since they were little kids.”

However, he knows his brothers would only qualify for release during the second phase of the deal, which is many weeks away, if it comes to pass at all. 

“I'm here to urge President Trump to see the deal through until the last hostage. So I'm hopeful. Hope will die last, and we'll do whatever we can to bring everyone home.”

Noa Argamani, who became one of the more well-known faces of the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, was kidnapped to Gaza with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. After 245 days in captivity, Argamani and three other hostages were rescued from Gaza and she was reunited with her ailing mother only three weeks before her death. 

Or, however, remains a hostage.

“Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity, and I will never feel truly free until all of them come back home again,” Argamani told those in attendance at the Sunday rally.

She stressed the urgency of the moment, describing her time as a hostage as one in which “every second feels like the last second of life. This is why it's absolutely critical that we put an end to this terrible tragedy and commit to a full and complete deal.”

Dekel-Chen did the same, noting that, earlier Sunday, the body of IDF soldier Oron Shaul was extracted from Gaza in a special operation hours before the ceasefire took effect. Shaul was killed in Gaza ten-and-a-half years ago.

“That's a stern reminder of the urgency of the situation. We must not stop,” he said, adding, “This is an amazing American moment today, at the cusp of transition between the Biden and Trump administrations that have worked shoulder to shoulder—in this incredibly partisan time in which we live—on behalf of the hostages. We know their commitment. We feel their commitment. We need their commitment for all 98 to come home.”

Daniel Neutra spoke on behalf of his family on Sunday. He’s the brother of Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra, who was thought to have been kidnapped alive by Hamas, only for Israeli authorities to declare this past December had he been killed on Oct. 7, 2023. Omer's body remains in Gaza

While Daniel told JNS he feels “a lot of happiness” over Sunday’s return of the three hostages, “it's the start of a possibly long journey here and the effort that we're going to need to put in cannot stop.” 

He said that if Israel can get back all of the hostages—living and dead—then “hopefully we can reach some kind of peace with ourselves. My brother went to Israel and was drafted out of his own choice to defend the people of Israel. He's a hero, and he deserves to be buried in the Land of Israel and not to be held by Hamas for who knows how long.”

Israel Defense Forces Sgt. 1st class (res.) Eviatar Ben Yehuda, 31, from Nitzan in the country's south, was killed during "operational activities" in northern Samaria, the military announced on Monday morning.

An officer in Ben Yehuda's unit, the 8211 Reserve Battalion of the IDF's Ephraim Brigade, was seriously wounded in the same incident, according to military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

Three more Israeli soldiers sustained injuries of various degrees in the incident, which took place in the Palestinian town of Tammun, northeast of the city of Nablus (Shechem), according to Ynet.

The soldiers had been traveling in a vehicle that hit an explosive device, according to the report.

Last week, five members of the IDF's Nahal Brigade were killed fighting Hamas in northern Gaza, according to the military. A truce with the Palestinian terrorist group went into effect at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.

The death toll among troops since the start of the IDF ground incursion in Gaza on Oct. 27, 2023, currently stands at 408, and at 841 on all fronts since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Additionally, Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, a member of the Israel Border Police’s Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit, was fatally wounded during a hostage-rescue mission in Gaza in June, and civilian defense contractor Liron Yitzhak was mortally wounded there in May.