News Digest — 10/8/26
World Leaders Mark Three Years Since Oct. 7 With Tributes To Victims, Condemnations of Hamas
World leaders marked the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Wednesday (7th) with tributes to the victims, condemnations of Hamas and calls for the release of hostages and a path toward regional peace.
US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “wished the people of Israel well,” adding that “the other side is paying a very big price for what they did on October 7.”
The White House separately expressed solidarity with the victims and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to combating terrorism.
“Today, three years after the horrific October 7 attacks, we remember the innocent lives taken by Hamas terrorists,” an X post said.
“The Trump administration remains committed to confronting terrorism and bringing hostages home. America will always stand as a beacon of freedom, defending our allies and values around the world.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the massacre as a “profound turning point” and offered his condolences. He also called for determined action against antisemitism so Jewish people can live without fear.
US Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned Hamas’ attacks on civilians and hostage-taking as unjustifiable atrocities. He mourned those killed during the attacks and in captivity and called for implementation of a peace plan and a political route toward regional peace.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas called for Hamas to disarm to advance the Gaza Peace Plan, saying, “Hamas brought unspeakable suffering to the Israeli people and left devastation in its wake.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten also honored the victims while calling for an end to the cycle of violence.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham condemned the attack and addressed Britain’s Jewish community directly.
“I want Britain’s Jewish community to hear this from me directly. We stand with you. Abuse and violence against you, in any form, will not be tolerated,” he stated. “Not on our streets, not online, not in our schools or universities.”
French President Emmanuel Macron commemorated the more than 1,200 victims, including 51 French nationals killed by Hamas.
“It’s been three years since we shared the grief of the State of Israel and the bereaved families. Three years later, we do not forget the names or the faces: those of Maya, Ohad, Valentin, and so many others,” Macron lamented.
‘Not Out Of Danger:’ Israeli Envoy To US Shares Update On Son Following Terror Attack
Israel Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, whose son Neria was seriously wounded during a car-ramming terrorist attack on September 24, 2026, said Wednesday (7th) that his son “has severe head injuries, but in recent days has begun breathing on his own.”
“He remains conscious,” Leiter added in a video recorded for the Evangelical Christian community’s memorial ceremony honoring the victims of October 7, held in Jerusalem.
In an additional statement shared by the ambassador, the family clarified that despite several encouraging signs, Neria remains in very serious condition and is not yet out of danger.
The Leiter family said Neria is receiving the best possible medical care in the intensive care unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The family thanked the medical staff and the public for their prayers and immense support and asked people to continue praying for the recovery of Neria Dov ben Chana.
Neria underwent several hours of brain surgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where his family later received a visit from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The family also received numerous messages of support on X from Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
“Pray for Yechiel Leiter & entire family,” Huckabee wrote on X, “They lost a son in Gaza killed by Hamas. Now a Palestinian terrorist attempts to murder IDF soldiers at a checkpoint.”
US Generals And Admirals: Israel Did Not Commit Genocide In Gaza
More than 75 senior retired US generals, admirals, and military lawyers have signed an open letter rejecting claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza , saying that the facts and applicable legal standard do not support such a finding.
The signatories, including retired officers who commanded US armed forces in combat, wrote in the October letter: “As retired senior military leaders and legal experts, on this, the third anniversary of Hanas’ October 7, 2023 brutal attack on Israel, we reject claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
The letter states that a finding of genocide requires evidence of acts intended to destroy a protected national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, in whole or in part. The signatories said Israel “has neither intended to, nor destroyed, Palestinians as a group in Gaza,” and argued that the evidence points to the contrary.
They also rejected claims based primarily on the number of civilians killed during the war. “Civilian deaths occurring during combat, however tragic, are insufficient by themselves, to support a finding of genocidal intent,” the letter states.
The signatories said many of them had commanded US forces against enemies who hide behind civilians, and said they understood the difficulty of fighting under such circumstances. They wrote that there is no perfect attack, but that commanders are required to use available information, exercise judgment, comply with legal obligations, and protect civilians.
The letter says assessments of Israeli combat operations by some of its signatories found extensive precautions aimed at avoiding civilian casualties, including leaflets, phone calls, text messages, radio and television broadcasts, social media notices, evacuation instructions, protected corridors, and tactical pauses. It also says stringent legal review of targets is standard IDF procedure.
The signatories further cited Israeli assistance to civilians in Gaza, including food, medical supplies, baby food, desalinated water, vaccinations for children, and medical evacuations, as evidence that Israel remained legally committed to civilian protection.
The letter also addresses statements by Israeli political officials that critics have cited as evidence of genocidal intent. It says inflammatory statements are “disgraceful” and many deserve condemnation, but argues that rhetoric from politicians who are not involved in military decision-making, does not reflect actual IDF operations.
Concluding the letter, the signatories wrote: “The precedent established today regarding Israel will shape the conditions under which American forces fight tomorrow. Protecting civilians and preserving the ability of our nation to defend itself requires us to defend the truth when the laws of war are being distorted to make false charges of genocide.”
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee commented on the letter: “You can believe ppl who actually know things or listen to the uninformed nonsense from Toxic Tucker & the UN sources who despite hard evidence accuse Israel of genocide.”
IDF To Equip Combat Engineering Vehicles With Iron Fist Active Protection Against Anti-Tank Threats
IDF Ground Forces Commander MG Nadav Lotan is advancing a series of major changes to Israel’s ground forces based on lessons learned from the Oct. 7 attacks and the ensuing war, with a new plan focused on increasing the independence and operational continuity of brigade combat teams maneuvering deep inside enemy territory.
At the center of the plan is a decision to integrate the Iron Fist active protection system into heavy combat engineering equipment and bulldozers, providing the vehicles with additional protection in the field.
Under Lotan’s plan, the IDF will expand brigade-level stocks of military equipment, ammunition, and weapons to reduce brigade combat teams’ dependence on outside support while maneuvering and remaining deep in enemy territory.
The plan also emphasizes alternatives to digital systems, including command-and-control systems with backup capabilities that will allow troops to continue operating in the event of communications disruptions or electronic warfare.
One of the most significant and rapidly advancing force-building efforts under the plan concerns the Combat Engineering Corps, particularly the number of heavy engineering vehicles available to it, with a broad focus on bulldozer platforms.
Updated figures show that the IDF currently has some 450 heavy engineering vehicles, in addition to approximately 80 Indian-made vehicles used primarily in defensive sectors.
At the height of intense fighting across the various fronts, heavy engineering vehicles proved to be at the forefront of IDF troops maneuvering deep into enemy territory. They cleared the way into the heart of Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Wadi Saluki, the Litani River area, the Beaufort Ridge, and elsewhere.
The heavy vehicles that opened routes deep into enemy territory faced unprecedented threats, including powerful explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, drones, mortar shells, rockets, and terror cells that attempted to attack the vehicles directly.
Those threats took a heavy toll on Combat Engineering Corps units. According to data obtained by Walla, Israel’s enemies have destroyed 3 heavy engineering vehicles since October 7.
Following those figures and an extensive staff review that examined several possible protection solutions, the Ground Forces made a significant decision to integrate the Iron Fist active protection system into the protective package for the heavy vehicles.
The system will provide Combat Engineering Corps crews with an additional critical layer of active protection, particularly against anti-tank missiles, allowing ground maneuver operations to continue under fire while reducing damage to the vehicle.
The Fist, manufactured by Elbit Systems, is an active protection system designed to protect armored fighting vehicles and engineering vehicles.
The system combines radar and electro-optical sensors to detect approaching threats in real time, including anti-tank missiles and rockets. When the system detects a threat, it launches an interceptor that detonates and destroys the incoming threat from a safe distance, without endangering the protected vehicle or nearby troops.
Hezbollah Still Present Inside Southern Lebanon Pilot Zones, Despite Lebanese Army Efforts – Report
Hezbollah terror operatives are maintaining a presence in several areas within the pilot zones in southern Lebanon, KAN News reported on Wednesday (7th).
According to KAN, Hezbollah members have been located in the areas of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbuyah, flying under the radar by posing as civilians.
The three aforementioned areas are located south of Nabatiya.
KAN also reported that the Hezbollah forces in the area were gathering intelligence and performing damage control with local officials.
“The Lebanese state is not doing what it is supposed to do; if wherever Israel leaves, Hezbollah enters” a Lebanese source told KAN, “and this only shows how critical the issue of disarming Hezbollah is even before the Israeli withdrawal.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that the pilot program in southern Lebanon, in which Israeli troops would withdraw in order to allow the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to take over operations against Hezbollah, had failed.
Israeli officials accuse the LAF of not acting against Hezbollah.
In August, Walla cited security officials as saying, “The LAF is not destroying terror infrastructure based on the coordinates provided to it by the IDF, while at the same time requesting more coordinates even though it is not doing anything about it.”
The IDF has criticized the LAF’s performance, claiming that it is not acting effectively against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
According to assessments by senior IDF officials, LAF chief Rodolphe Haykal continues to cooperate with Hezbollah, fears confrontation with commanders of the Shiite organization in southern Lebanon, and is ineffective in carrying out searches, locating terror infrastructure, and finding weapons.
The Vacation From Jewish History Is Over For Americans – Jonathan S. Tobin
American Jewry, a population that achieved almost complete acceptance in virtually every sector of society and business, is now starting to be treated with disdain, suspicion and hostility in the same way their great-grandparents and every generation of Jews for 2,000 years had taken as the normal state of affairs.
Most Americans still reject the demonization of Jews and Israel, even as they are deluged with such messages by biased media that have normalized blood libels about “genocide” in Gaza. Add to that their social-media feeds, which are flooded with conspiracy theories about Jews being responsible for all the ills of the world.
The progressives and marxists who make up a bizarre red-green alliance with Islamists, along with their apologists, have captured the institutions of American education as well as the arts and pop culture. They falsely brand Jews – the most persecuted minority in history – as “white oppressors.”
Activists have used the war being waged against the Jewish state in the past three years not merely to stigmatize, shun and intimidate Jews, but also to begin to erase them from sectors of society like higher education, publishing and other cultural pursuits where they had flourished.
It is one thing for European nations to turn on the Jews: almost all countries on that continent have at various times in their histories expelled or persecuted Jewish people. But the U.S. has always been a place where Jews have almost never experienced official discrimination or persecution, and where they were, from the very inception of the republic, equal partners.
That is as good a reason as any to fight via defiance in the streets and public discourse, as well as legal and political action, to preserve this country as a safe place for Jews and non-Jews alike from the dangerous lunacy.
Yet there is no avoiding the fact that Jewish life in the U.S.is undergoing a transition that is leaving behind the post-Holocaust honeymoon in which Jews were popular and universally accepted. The armed security guards and other methods by which they are turning their synagogues, schools and community centers into fortresses – in marked distinction from the way other ethnic and religious groups live – are just the most visible evidence of this.
(jns.org)
