| British News |
| Gang jailed for kidnapping Jewish-Israeli music producer |
 |
|
A Jewish-Israeli music producer said he felt like he experienced his own “personal October 7” when he was kidnapped by a gang in West Wales and held captive. Faiz Shah, 23, from Leeds, Mohammad Comrie, 23, from Bradford, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, from Wallington, were jailed at Swansea Crown Court on Friday. The court heard they had lured Itay Kashti to a remote property in the Brynteg area of Llanybydder on 26 August, posing as representatives from a reputable music production company and inviting him to a music workshop. During sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said the planning was “significant and highly sophisticated”, targeting an “entirely innocent, hard-working music producer” based on the gang’s understanding of his wealth and his Jewish heritage. The group – who all pleaded guilty to kidnap – each received a sentence of eight years and one month. The court heard they meticulously plotted the attack on a Telegram group chat. They used false identities to rent out a cottage and organised a taxi to transport Mr Kashti to Wales from his London home.The group – who all pleaded guilty to kidnap – each received a sentence of eight years and one month. The court heard they meticulously plotted the attack on a Telegram group chat. They used false identities to rent out a cottage and organised a taxi to transport Mr Kashti to Wales from his London home. Messages recovered from the defendants show they planned to incapacitate the victim with ketamine, while an imitation pistol was found at the scene. Mr Kashti was able to slip the chains from the radiator pipe and flee the property, later alerting the police. Officers found the three defendants hiding in nearby fields. Craig Jones, for the prosecution, said messages exchanged between the defendants referred to Mr Kashti having been on “pro-Israeli marches”. They also made allegations about “Palestinian land” and said they had “no remorse” for what they were going to do. In a statement, Mr Kashti told the court: “As an Israeli, this incident felt like my own personal October the 7th. “I was kicked to the head several times, handcuffed to a radiator and forced to lie down on the floor. I was threatened and told if I were to try and escape, I’d be killed. “The awful attack of 7th of October was flashing through my mind as I lay restrained on the floor in handcuffs.” The judge told them: “It seems to me that you justified your actions against the victim based on his background, as if he was less worthy of your respect and compassion. That is utterly abhorrent. “I have no doubt that the victim was targeted due to his Jewish heritage.” Inspector Gareth Jones, of Dyfed-Powys Police, described the “harrowing” impact of the crime on the victim and his family. “This sentence today reflects the severity of this offence and the ordeal the victim suffered – and we hope it gives the victim a sense of justice,” he said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| World News |
| ‘We’ve never been closer to a peace deal,’ White House says |
 |
|
We’ve been listening to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s news conference, where she was asked about ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. She says “we are on the 10th-yard line of peace and we’ve never been closer to a peace deal than we are in this moment”. “The president is determined to get one done,” she adds. Asked if Donald Trump would consider putting sanctions on Russia if his phone call with Vladimir Putin doesn’t go well tomorrow, Leavitt replies: “It’s something the president has floated, and certainly he’s willing to do if necessary.” Leavitt also sidesteps a question on whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given Trump authority to divide up Ukrainian assets with Putin. She says it has been part of the discussion between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart, but adds further details will come after Trump’s call with Putin tomorrow. She also declines to answer a question on whether Trump and Putin will discuss Zelenskyy’s future. |
|
|
|
Advert |
 |
|
|
| Israel News |
| IDF confirms airstrikes against Hezbollah military sites in Lebanon |
 |
|
The IDF confirms carrying out a wave of airstrikes in Lebanon a short while ago, saying it targeted Hezbollah military sites. The sites were targeted after the IDF says it identified Hezbollah operatives and weapons at them. “The terror activity at these sites poses a threat to the State of Israel and is a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the military says. The strikes were reported by Lebanese media in the Beqaa Valley area and in southern Lebanon. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| Israel restarts Gaza strikes, blames Hamas for not releasing hostages as truce collapses |
 |
|
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed early Tuesday morning after roughly two months, as the IDF launched dozens of strikes throughout Gaza after receiving orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “act forcefully” against the terror group due to what the premier said was its repeated refusal to release Israeli hostages. At least 232 Palestinians were killed, according to unverified figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Netanyahu’s office said the decision to resume strikes shortly after midnight on Tuesday “followed Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US special envoy to the Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators.” |
|
|
| Report: ‘Unusual incident’ in Gaza indicates Hamas gearing up to carry out new raid in Israel |
|
|
Israel recently identified “an unusual incident” in Gaza, which points to Hamas gearing up for a renewed raid, penetrating into Israel, Channel 12 says, in an unsourced report that it says was approved for publication by the military censor. The report also says Israel has identified a “sharp rise” in Hamas efforts to carry out attacks on Gaza border kibbutzim and communities, and on IDF troops stationed inside Gaza. It further quotes Defense Minister Israel Katz recently telling residents in communities close to Gaza: “Hamas has sustained a heavy blow, but has not been defeated. There are ongoing efforts for its recovery. Hamas is constantly gearing up to carry out a renewed raid into Israel — similar to October 7.” The TV report comes a day after opposition MK Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief, and other opposition legislators warned of an alarming resurgence by Gaza’s terror groups. “In recent days, we have been informed that the military power of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has been restored, to the point where Hamas has over 25,000 and PIJ has over 5,000 armed terrorists,” wrote the MKs, all of whom are members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. |
|
|
|
To advertise click here or [email protected]:
|
|
The email was sent to [email protected] |
