Free Republic

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari on Monday morning gave a statement on the Sunday night rescue of two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), during an IDF operation in Rafah. In his statement, Hagari said, "This was a complex rescue operation carried out under fire in the heart of Rafah, and based on quality intelligence. The ISA's operational unit, the police, Southern Command, Shayetet 13, and Brigade 7 of the Armored Corps carried out this professional and precise action. This is an operation which we prepared for over the course of some time - the necessary preparations were...

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong are witnessing a severe downturn, reaching multi-year lows, as confidence in the world’s second-largest economy dissipates. The alarming situation has prompted Beijing to consider an ambitious multi-trillion market rescue package. This unprecedented decline in Chinese markets has captured global attention, raising questions about the effectiveness of intervention measures. The recent plunge in Chinese stocks has been described as a multi-year low, with foreign investors withdrawing their money amid growing concerns about sputtering economic growth and a deepening real estate crisis. Despite various attempts, including short selling bans and interventions by China’s Plunge Protection...

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) evacuated Palestinian civilians from a school in central Gaza that was being used by Hamas terrorists to fire at Israeli soldiers, and arrested and interrogated the terrorists from the building, Israel announced Saturday.

O’Keefe Media Group on Wednesday released part of its ‘Secret Migrant Center’ at 1211 East Apache in Phoenix, Arizona. “Video shows facility run by International Rescue Committee RESCUE.org busing thousands of illegal migrant “refugees” every hour on the hour to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport,” James O’Keefe said. “Migrants tell us they crossed the border illegally, as IRC given $415 million from Feds to give the pretense of refugee status and fly them on flights out of Terminal 3 and 4,” O’Keefe said. “Tomas Robles an IRC staffer, called us “domestic terrorists” and reported us to the police for asking questions.”...

Oz Davidian took a different route each time as he made some 20 trips to Re’im, where Hamas terrorists overran the Nova rave and slaughtered partygoers Extraordinary video footage was published November 15 from the dashboard of a truck belonging to a farmer from the area near the Gaza border who rescued some 120 young people trying to escape from an open-air party on October 7, as Hamas terrorists sprayed them with bullets. Oz Davidian, from nearby Maslul, made some 20 trips between Re’im, where an all-night party held outdoors had been overrun by gunmen, and his moshav, as well...

Californians are bracing for third day of monster surf that has already damaged countless ocean-side properties. During the first round of severe surf Thursday, nearly 20 beachgoers were swept away by a particularly powerful wave that slammed into a barrier in Ventura County. First responders also rescued about 10 people there Friday after the group 'thought they were able to navigate that high surf,' officials said. Two beachgoers then had to pull a lifeguard out of the water as he struggled to make it back ashore, a firefighter told CNN. Though hazards are expected lessen Saturday, waves slamming into California’s...

At last report, there were three confirmed fatalities in the landslide, one known survivor and three people still missing. A massive landslide took out three homes on a highway outside of Wrangell late Monday. Three people had been found dead as of Tuesday night, and search and rescue efforts continue, along with an outpouring of community aid. KTOO’s Anna Canny is in Wrangell and says the most recent update from authorities is that three people are still missing. Anna Canny: So right now, we still don’t know any of those names that have been released publicly. But we do know...

Finally, some good news coming out of the Middle East—Israel's security forces on Monday announced that they'd free a soldier who had been held hostage by Hamas since their October 7 terror attacks. The Israeli Defense Forces said the soldier, Pvt. Ori Megidish, was rescued in an overnight information in Gaza, but they did not provide further details. She was reportedly in good condition and has been reunited with her family:The moment Ori Megidish, who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7/10 was reunited with her grandmother ❤️We will do everything we can to bring the rest of our families home....

As commercial airlines understandably reduced flights into the Israel/Gaza war zone, tens of thousands of visitors from other countries have been left stranded. The responses of the governments of the citizens trapped in the war zone have been dramatically different. The government of Hungary immediately dispatched aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, said "we have already returned 310 Hungarians and 15 citizens of other states. Staff at our embassy in Tel Aviv remain on 24-hour call to assist others who seek our help." Responding to requests for help from Floridians stranded in...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday an effort to rescue Floridians who are trying to leave Israel amid its war with Hamas terrorists.The announcement by DeSantis, a Republican, is part of an executive order he signed to respond to Hamas terrorists’ surprise attack Saturday on Israel, which left hundreds killed, maimed, or kidnapped, according to a copy of the governor’s order....DeSantis signed a document called Executive Order 23-208 (Emergency Management–Impacts of War in Israel).“There are more than 20,000 Americans, including Floridians, in Israel who wish to return home but are unable to do so,” DeSantis said in a written statement.

Florida Republican Cory Mills traveled to Israel to help recuse dozens of Americans who are still stuck in the country.Mills (R-Fla.) flew to Israel overnight in order to rescue Americans and to also help Israelis on the ground.Mills expressed that he felt compelled to make the mission after Hamas attacked the Jewish State. He also said that he is “helping and showing solidarity with our Israeli brethren and helping Americans evacuate.”In a phone call with The Floridan, the representative said that he was able to rescue 32 Americans so far. However, Mills reiterated that there are still “hundreds trapped” in...

WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. is talking with Israel and Egypt about the idea of a safe passage for Gaza civilians as Israel strikes the enclave after a deadly Hamas attack over the weekend, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. "We are focused on this question, there are consultations going on," Sullivan told reporters at the White House. "But the details of that are something that are being discussed among the operational agencies and I don't want to share too much of that publicly at this time," Sullivan said. Israel has battered Palestinians with deadly...

The United States is readying its special forces to help Israel locate American hostages, as waves of Israeli Defense Force reservists arrived at JFK airport in New York to join the fight against Hamas.Two senior U.S. military officials told The Messenger that 'door kickers' have been put on standby in a nearby European country, ready to assist Israel if necessary in their battle against Hamas. The Israeli death toll rose to 1,200 on Tuesday. The military sources told the website that there was currently no indication the U.S. special forces would be sent to Israel, but they were only a...

At least two children have reportedly been rescued from a cable car that has been stuck for several hours over a ravine in Pakistan's north-west. Members of the military have made several attempts to reach the group of eight, who became stuck when a cable snapped early this morning. The group was heading to school when it happened, leaving them dangling 274m (900ft) above the ground. Doctors are at the site to assess those who have been pulled to safety. The first child was rescued by helicopter, while the second was saved by locals using a zipline, according to rescue...

A battery of heavy machinery and submarines dubbed the 'last chance' for the crew of the Titan tourist submarine arrived in Canada tonight - but it now faces a race against time to help rescuers in the desperate search. The array of winches, cables and unmanned vehicles capable of going 19,000 feet underwater were delivered to St John's airport in Newfoundland by three US Air Force cargo planes. It was taken with a police escort to the port where a waiting ship, the Horizon Arctic, was due to set sail at midnight.

American President Joe Biden, accompanied by his son Hunter and his sister Valerie, touched down at a military base outside Belfast on Tuesday evening as he prepares for a four-day tour of Nothern Ireland and the neighbouring Republic of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace agreement. Mr Biden was met on the tarmac by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after arriving in the country at around 9 pm local time at the Royal Air Force base in Aldergrove in County Antrim near Belfast.

JTA — While the United States swung its door shut to most refugees during World War II, a young American in France saved thousands, including some of the 20th century’s defining artists and thinkers — such as Marc Chagall and Hannah Arendt — from the Nazis. The rescue mission of Varian Fry, which went largely unrecognized during his life, is the subject of Netflix’s new drama “Transatlantic,” launching Friday from “Unorthodox” creator Anna Winger. Starring Cory Michael Smith as Fry, the seven-episode “Transatlantic” aims to recreate his operation in Marseille after the Nazis defeated France and before the United States...

The White House on Friday will highlight impacts of the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, as it prepares to mark two years since President Biden signed it into law. The White House will release state-by-state data for all 50 states about the impact of the package, pointing to jobs and small businesses created and the number of people who saved money on health insurance coverage, a White House official told The Hill. ADMINISTRATION White House touting local benefits of American Rescue Plan to mark 2-year anniversary BY ALEX GANGITANO - 03/10/23 9:53 AM ET SHARE TWEET...

The rescue team's best friend - the K-9 dog detection unit - has also been working tirelessly alongside their human handlers.Many Malaysians have shared photos on social media showing exhausted rescue workers as search operations to locate the buried victims of Friday's landslide near Genting Highlands moved into the third day on Sunday (Dec 18). But many of those pictures do not show their silent companions, who are just as stretched and weary. The rescue team's best friend - the K-9 dog detection unit - has also been working tirelessly alongside their human handlers.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An 83-year-old Port Charlotte man who was trapped under a golf cart for several hours was rescued by an unlikely duo — two Waste Management workers. According to a release from the company, driver Alex Galarza and assistant driver Paulino Ortega were driving along their regular route Monday when they noticed the man trapped under a golf cart at the end of a Port Charlotte driveway. The workers immediately dialed 911 and started providing first aid treatment while authorities were en route. In talking to the man, the workers noticed he was showing signs of hypothermia...