Israel News for 12-15-2025
News Update
On Saturday, the IDF eliminated Raad Saad, Hamas’ second-in-command and head of operations in its military wing, in a drone strike on the vehicle he was driving in Gaza City. Three other Hamas terrorists were killed with him. Saad was one of the architects of the Oct. 7 massacre. Earlier in the day, 2 IDF soldiers were wounded by a Hamas explosive device in Khan Younis. The incident was cited by the Prime Minister and Defense Minister as the pretense for the elimination on Saad. Yesterday, a senior Hamas internal security officer was assassinated by a pro-Israel Gazan militia.
Yesterday, 2 Islamic terrorists (a father and son) opened fire on a menorah lighting ceremony on the first night of Hanukkah in Sydney, Australia’s Bondi Beach, where over 1,000 Jews has come to celebrate the first night of the holiday. Fifteen people were murdered in the terror attack, including Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Holocaust survivor Alex Kleitman, a 12 year of child. Many people were wounded. One of the terrorists was killed and the other severely wounded and arrested. A moslem man, Ahmed al-Ahmed, who was at the scene was videoed jumping on one of the terrorists and disarming him, before being shot twice himself. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Sa’ar both accused Australian Prime Minister Albanese for failing to take a firm stand against antisemitism and for allowing public displays of anti-Israel and antisemitic hatred in the country.
A rare lead pendant decorated with a seven-branched menorah, dated to the 6th to early 7th century CE during the Late Byzantine period, was discovered during archaeological excavations at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, in the southwestern corner. Researchers believe the artifact was worn by a Jewish individual who traveled to Jerusalem despite Byzantine-era restrictions barring Jews from the city. Both sides of the pendant had the image of the menorah on it. Dr. Yuval Baruch, who has directed excavations at the site for approximately 25 years and specializes in menorah studies, said: “During the Byzantine period the menorah became a symbol of national memory, and it expressed the expectation of national revival among the Jewish communities in the Land of Israel; in the Diaspora, they adopted it in exactly the same way. Moreover, in recent years, there is increased archaeological evidence that show that Jews, despite all the prohibitions and difficulties imposed on them, found the ways to reach Jerusalem and it is possible that there were even some who settled there.”
Happy Hanukkah!
