RSS
Two American Judges Witnessed the Devastation of October 7 Firsthand in Israel
During a recent discussion in Florida, two judges delved into International Humanitarian Law and the laws of war from an Israeli perspective, focusing specifically on the October 7 Hamas massacre.
Judge Roy Altman, the youngest District Court judge ever appointed in the Southern District of Florida, and Senior Judge Robert Scola of the Florida Southern District Court, reflected on an educational trip to Israel that included 14 Federal judges. They also discussed the personal impact of witnessing the aftermath of the October 7th massacre, focusing on the historical significance and the power of human resilience.
Judge Altman shared his personal experiences witnessing the tragedy at Kibbutz Be’eri, located three kilometers from the Gaza border. Over 120 homes were damaged or destroyed, resulting in approximately 100 lives lost, and 40 hostages taken from their homes into Gaza. The community had been known for its progressive beliefs in fostering peace by aiding Palestinians through initiatives like offering employment opportunities and medical assistance.
During their visit to Israel, the judges also honored the victims of the Nova festival massacre, and saw the devastation of the attack firsthand. Judge Altman shared a poignant moment when a grieving mother, overwhelmed by inconsolable sorrow for her lost son, was gently guided away from a memorial mound by her family members.
Amid the sorrow and grief, the judges were uplifted by a group of 50 women who were singing Hatikvah arm in arm. They invited them to join.
Judge Altman said, “In the spot where more Jews were butchered than at any other place on Earth since the Holocaust, these women had left whatever they were doing that day and driven two hours on a bus to the South to sing not of vengeance or vindictiveness or hatred, but of hope — hope for each other, hope for the country, hope for the land for which they and their ancestors had fought for thousands of years. A people who are deserving of our love, our admiration, and our support.”
Judge Scola, who is not Jewish, expressed his gratitude for his first visit to Israel, highlighting the warm reception from Israelis towards US government officials. He was also impressed by the unity and resilience of the Jewish people.
“Whether in the Diaspora or in Israel, when faced with an existential external threat, Israelis from all political persuasions — left, right, and center — understand the importance of setting aside their political divisions and focusing on their survival,” Scola shared.
Judge Scola viewed a 47-minute video of the Hamas massacre that left him deeply traumatized. He said that it “was the longest 47 minutes of my life.” The horror of inhumanity and the evident joy displayed by the terrorists while mercilessly slaughtering innocent civilians left a lasting impression on him.
Reflecting on their trip honoring the memory of all the October 7 victims, survivors, and their families, the judges said that it served as a testament to recognizing the resilience and spirit of the Israeli people in the face of adversity, and that they were proud to stand with the Israeli people.
Ayelet Raymond is an Israel activist, and the creative force behind the @Kosher Barbie character and social media personality.
The post Two American Judges Witnessed the Devastation of October 7 Firsthand in Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
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.”
RSS
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.
RSS
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.