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Floyd Mayweather Praises Wounded IDF Soldiers as ‘Brave Warriors, True Heroes’ During Solidarity Trip to Israel
Floyd Mayweather Jr. gestures during a press conference, ahead of exhibition fight with John Gotti III, in Mexico City, Mexico, August 23, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Henry Romero
Undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is currently in Israel to show support for the country amid its ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, and on Tuesday he visited soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who have been wounded fighting on behalf of the Jewish state.
The boxing world champion met wounded IDF soldiers at Hadassah Hospital and wrote in an Instagram post that the visit “was deeply emotional.” He shared several photos from his visit and said, “Witnessing the strength and courage of these brave heroes was truly inspiring. May God bless them all.”
Mayweather also visited wounded IDF soldiers at the Belev Echad rehabilitation center in Kiryat Ono and told the soldiers “you guys are brave warriors, I take my hat off to everyone in here that go on that battlefield.”
“Everyone can’t do your job, just like everyone can’t do my job,” he added. “You guys are team players. I am proud of you all. Hold your head up high and just know every day is a blessing. We can’t take nothing for granted and you guys are true heroes. You guys are warriors and I’m behind you guys 100 percent. I’ll be back and you guys have my support.”
Mayweather shared a photo with some of the soldiers from the Belev Echad rehab center in a separate Instagram post and said the visit was “a humbling experience.” The Belev Echad center said Mayweather “spent time engaging with our heroes, sharing words of encouragement, and emphasizing the importance of resilience both in and out of the ring.”
This is Mayweather’s fourth visit to Israel since the Gaza war began, following the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Mayweather was one of the first outside of Israel to send supplies to the Jewish state — including medical equipment, food, and bulletproof vests for IDF soldiers — after the Oct. 7 massacre. The athlete landed in Israel earlier this week and shortly after his arrival wrote in an Instagram post that the country “feels like home away from home.”
“There’s nothing like returning to such warmth and hospitality!” he added. “A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Ben Gurion Airport for the welcome back … Actions speak louder than words, and I’m here to support in every way I can. Here’s to another great journey together.”
Mayweather has made a number of stops in Jerusalem this week. He visited the Western Wall, the US embassy, where he met former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and the Orthodox yeshiva Sha’arei Mevaseret Zion, where he told students, “I will continue to support Israel, I will be back, and I will continue to be a voice for the [Jewish] people.” Mayweather was also gifted this week by JB Jewelers in Israel a limited edition $20,000 watch in the colors of the Israeli flag in honor of his support for Israel. The watch was created to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence, and its back features an image of an Israeli flag.
Earlier this month, Mayweather pledged $100,000 to United Hatzalah of Israel so the emergency medical service organization can purchase 100 bulletproof vests to keep its volunteers safe.
The post Floyd Mayweather Praises Wounded IDF Soldiers as ‘Brave Warriors, True Heroes’ During Solidarity Trip to Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.