‘Trump, you’re my hope’ – Freed hostage to US president

  World Israel News Staff          

 “ 'I beg you, don’t stop until all the hostages, the living and the dead, are brought home,” Berger said in a heartfelt plea."  TD: Adam Schiff, Al Green, do you really want to put a stop to this? Israel supporters, speak up!

Breaking: Former hostage Agam Berger, who was just released from captivity, thanks @POTUS Trump for his efforts to free the hostages. "There are a lot of people whose lives depends on you, you're their only hope. I suffered a lot, others are still there suffering". @SteveWitkoff pic.twitter.com/ozQJCrsEcj

— Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) February 18, 2025

 Former Hamas hostage Agam Berger thanked President Donald J. Trump in a video posted on social media, crediting him with securing her release from captivity and stressing the importance of continuing the hostage deal.

"Berger, who was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base adjacent to the Gaza Strip on October 7th, 2023, was released in late January after being held by the terror group for nearly 15 months.

"In the video, Berger thanked Trump “from the bottom of my heart for all you have done and all that you continue to do for the hostages.”

" 'Addressing Trump, Berger emphasized that “because of you, we came home.”

"She added that there are additional hostages in Gaza “who really depend on you and are waiting for you to save them from there.”

"She stressed that Trump “has the power to” save the rest of the hostages, whom she said are suffering every day they remain in captivity.

" 'I beg you, don’t stop until all the hostages, the living and the dead, are brought home,” Berger said in a heartfelt plea.

“The helpless hostages in the dark, cold tunnels in Gaza also trust you. Please bring them home.”

 Israel is watching us, Americans!    Anti-Trump protesters drag Trump effigy clad in prison jumpsuit through Washington DC

Hamas official says bodies of Bibas family will return to Israel on Thursday

 Greta Thunberg and her designer scarf friends will be pleased at this, I'm sure.  I dread asking: how did they die at the hand of Hamas?

The return of the bodies of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas would mark a tragic end to 16 months of activism, protest and prayer on behalf of the family.

 

"A Hamas official has announced that the terror group will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, among them the Bibas family.

"Hamas is also due to release six living hostages on Saturday.

"The six hostages scheduled to be released are Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Hisham Al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu. Their families have been notified.

"The return of the bodies of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas would mark a tragic end to 16 months of activism, protest and prayer on behalf of the family, who more than anyone else became symbols of the Israeli hostages’ plight.Kfir and Ariel’s father, Shiri’s husband Yarden, was also taken hostage and held separately. He was released earlier this month.          

 

Kfir before Hamas came.

"An image of Shiri clutching the two boys, then ages 9 months and 4, as they were abducted into Gaza circulated widely after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Since then, their names and pictures, identifiable by the boys’ red hair, have been at the center of global efforts to secure the hostages’ release, have symbolized the atrocities of Oct. 7 and have animated the prayers and hopes of Jews and other advocates worldwide. Images of the family in happier times have spread worldwide."Since a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023, Kfir and Ariel Bibas have been the only two children held hostage in Gaza. Hamas claimed in November 2023 that Shiri and the two boys had been killed, and Israel said it was investigating the claim but did not confirm it. In the year-plus since, advocates for the hostages have held out hope that the family remained alive.

"In recent weeks, Israel has broadcast increasing worry about Shiri, Kfir and Ariel, who are on the list of hostages to be released during the current ceasefire. An Israeli official expressed “grave concerns” for their fate. Concerns rose further after Hamas announced that eight of the 33 hostages due to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire were dead." . . .

Hamas To Return Bodies Of Bibas Babies, The Two Youngest Hostages Killed

. . ."The Bibas children — along with their mother Shiri and father Yarden — were among those kidnapped and taken into Gaza on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists breached the border into Israel and killed more than 1200 people. They tortured, raped, and slaughtered hundreds of Israeli men, women, and children — and then returned to Gaza with dozens more as their hostages." . . .

News media; no Edward R. Murrows here

UPDATE: How the Media Is Trying to Scare the People About Elon Musk and Save Their Swamp    . . ."This is all made to make Musk sound like he has absolute authority within the federal government, second only to Trump. This is not the case. As I said earlier in this article, Musk is simply an auditor, and DOGE is his auditing team. He has no real power to cut anything. His job is to simply uncover the rot, and Trump takes it from there." . . . 

CNN Darling Kaitlan Collins Breaks Silence With Clarification That MAGA Simply Won’t Buy After Posting Then Quickly Deleting Controversial Tweet: ‘Not True’  

. . ."Collins, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent, faced immediate backlash after sharing a link to a website created by Mangione’s legal team at Agnifilo Intrater. 

"The website includes personal messages from Mangione and directs visitors to an external fundraising page, though the site itself doesn’t host fundraising activities."

                        Hey Kaitlan, the internet is forever pic.twitter.com/jdPHyTKkLV

                    — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 16, 2025 

POLL RESULTS: Worst Media Take of the Week Winner!   We’ve got a brand new, fun interactive series for the new year called Worst Media Take of the Week, where you — our loyal NewsBusters visitors and MRC supporters — get to vote on which leftist journalist or celebrity had the worst media take of the week.  

"Much appreciation to all who voted last week via NewsBusters and the MRC’s various social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and X.com).  

"The results of the Worst Media Take of the Week are in and the winner is…

Joe Scarborough!  "The SiriusXM host won in a rout with 60 percent of the vote. ABC’s The View co-host Joy Behar came in a distant second with 33 percent of the vote. NPR White House correspondent and ABC News contributor Asma Khalid came in last with 7 percent.

"The co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe took first place with his claim that Elon Musk was “literally killing people across the globe.” 

See who are second and third here.

Elon Musk Threatened With Assassination by Two Unassuming People – DOGE Boss Responds With Famous Quote

 RTM   

“When Elon Musk forces his way into the United States Treasury and threatens to steal your personal information and your social security check, there is the possibility of violence.”

A self-proclaimed comedian from Brooklyn and a Tennessee pastor have separately issued alarming statements appearing to encourage violence against President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. 

"The incidents have drawn widespread attention, sparking concerns over escalating political rhetoric and online radicalization.

"Earlier this month, Brooklyn-based content creator Darius Dinkins posted a TikTok video suggesting that someone should take extreme action against both Trump and Musk. 

"The video quickly went viral, drawing condemnation from various quarters, including Musk himself." . . .

These are of a piece with Joe Biden's inflammatory calls for eliminating Trump at several of his speeches before Congress, the Democrat Convention, and his dark speech outside Freedom Hall in Philadelphia. TD

Speaking of chaplains: just don't preach like this man: VA Under Fire for Sanctioning Chaplain for Preaching Against Homosexuality: Report    "A Veterans Affairs chaplain in Pennsylvania was reportedly sanctioned after delivering a sermon that included biblical passages on cultural and moral issues, prompting his attorneys to argue that the actions violated the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act."

. . ."The sermon focused on the consequences of a culture that excludes God, specifically addressing behaviors described in the biblical passage, Romans 1:23-32. Trubey explained the passage, which is consistent with the teachings of his endorsing body, the Assemblies of God. 

"Before beginning the sermon, Trubey cautioned the congregation that his message might be uncomfortable, but he emphasized the need to understand difficult truths to fully appreciate the “good news” he would share." . . .

Why would anyone be a Democrat?

 Bob Weir  

"If you’re a Democrat who is sensible enough to know that men can’t give birth to children, why don’t you take a stand against the crazies in your orbit?  Are you so morally bankrupt and cowardly that you would remain silent simply because you’re a member of a political party and don’t want to hurt your chances for re-election?" 

Rich Terrell

"The 2024 presidential election was a seminal moment in our history.  It did more than provide a wide margin of support for one candidate over another.  It spoke volumes about how deteriorated our culture has become when the issues of the campaign were as polar-opposite as love and hate.  President Trump talked about closing the southern border in order to stop illegal immigration, whereas Biden/Harris told us the border was secure, notwithstanding daily videos of thousands of illegals forcefully streaming into our country.  The Biden administration was telling us that inflation is transitory while consumers were paying double and triple prices for goods and services.  How deluded were the Democrats to think their party could win by denying everything that was occurring right before the eyes of all Americans?

"Moreover, after they suffered the devastating loss, they continued to fight against all the issues that Trump ran on, and that voters overwhelmingly supported.  As promised, President Trump got to work quickly by issuing hundreds of executive orders.  By the way, did you ever think, in your wildest imagination, that a president would have to issue an order proclaiming that there are only two genders?  How about an E.O. declaring that men can no longer participate in women’s sports?  He even needed an E.O. to stop the flow of illicit drugs across our borders.  During a saner time in our history, such actions would have been part of the normal order of government business.

"It makes me wonder why anyone would be a Democrat and have to defend the insanity of the radical left in his party.  Isn’t there anyone with the courage to speak common sense to the extremists within?  That so-called “Squad” of reprobates, who evince obvious hatred for the country they were elected to serve, appear to have an iron grip on the other 200-plus in their party." . . .

Democrat party now the biggest threat to world peace and freedom   . . ."Part and parcel of that is that, ironically, it is the biggest threat to democracy in America. It wants to abolish the Electoral College, dispense with the filibuster, make Puerto Rico the 51st state, grant statehood to the federal District of Columbia as well, pack the Supreme Court — and make it illegal to ask for I.D. at voting/polling places across the fruited plain, thereby inviting massive fraud and effectively disenfranchising countless citizen voters.

"On top of all this, it seeks to further eliminate its political opposition by fabricated character attacks, perpetual lawfare, and even assassination.

"But even this is not enough." . . . There's MORE?

NCAA changes transgender policy to limit women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth | CNN

 CNN  . . ."However, the NCAA said an athlete assigned female at birth who has begun hormone therapy (testosterone, for example) can practice with a women’s team but cannot compete on a women’s team without risking the team’s eligibility for championships.

"Member schools remain responsible for certifying athlete eligibility for practice and competition. The NCAA also said schools are subject to local, state and federal legislation and such legislation supersedes NCAA rules.

"The NCAA policy change was announced hours after the Trump administration said it was investigating potential civil rights violations at two universities and a high school sports league that allowed transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams. The Education Department said it had opened reviews of San Jose State University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team drew headlines last season over unconfirmed allegations that the roster included a transgender player. As for Penn, three former teammates of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas have sued the NCAA, Ivy League, Harvard and the school over Thomas’s participation at conference and national championships, saying it violated Title IX provisions." . . .   More...

Related: Make Sports Apolitical Again

. . . "Sports, which once transcended politics to unite all Americans, have been heavily politicized at least since 2016 when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kicked off the trend of kneeling during the pre-game playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” declared the mixed-race Kaepernick in explanation.

"Sports fans, who generally prefer their superstar athletes to display a more patriotic humility and gratitude, were offended, if not outraged. But “taking a knee” became routine for many athletes, especially in the National Football League (which not only permitted the protests but encouraged social justice slogans in end zones and on the backs of helmets). These protests even filtered down into high school sporting events.

"That wasn’t the only divisive politicizing of the sport. Because some mistakenly perceive that “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not inclusive of black Americans, there has been a growing movement to adopt “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, as a “black national anthem” alternative. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has promoted this idea from as far back as 1917.

"After the incendiary controversy over the 2020 death of George Floyd in police custody, the notion of granting the hymn equal time with “The Star-Spangled Banner” gained momentum, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is now played prior to many sporting events including every Super Bowl since 2020 – including the most recent one." . . .

Hamas Expected to Return Bodies of Several Hostages on Thursday;

Jewish Press

"Jerusalem is preparing to receive the bodies of four or five hostages on Thursday who were murdered in captivity in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s KAN News public broadcaster reported on Monday.

"The ceasefire deal with the Hamas terrorist organization stipulates that the bodies of four hostages will be returned to the Jewish State on the 33rd day of the ceasefire that went into effect Jan. 19, an Israeli official told Walla.

"According to KAN News, Hamas is scheduled to hand over the names of the slain captives on Thursday morning.

"Israeli military ambulances will collect the bodies at a meeting point, from where they will be brought to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv for identification."

"Officials involved in the preparations stressed that the families of the hostages will only be informed after the identification process is completed." . . .

Israeli military experts weigh in on Trump's ‘all hell’ threat to Hamas and what it could look like   . . ."In terms of Hamas’s long-range missiles, the current capabilities are minor, if at all. Mid-range was probably reduced to approximately less than 100 total, and for short-range capabilities such as mortars and drones, it’s hard to estimate," he told Fox News Digital.

"Hayman agrees that "all hell" might entail President Donald Trump giving carte blanche to Israel to use 2,000-pound bombs or greater leeway to demolish swaths of territory using bulldozers and other heavy machinery to prevent Hamas from regenerating.

"Israel might also change its fighting strategy to ensure Hamas is no longer able to regroup by retaking territory evacuated by troops in Gaza, according to Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser (res.), a former head of research in the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate.

" 'Israel could mount an attack in a different way than we saw till now. Instead of taking control of areas and then leaving them, we would keep control, minimizing Hamas’s ability to rule over the population in Gaza and thus its ability to survive," he told Fox News Digital." . . .

TRUMP’S GAZA RELOCATION PROPOSAL SPARKS HEATED DEBATE AMONG PALESTINIANS: ‘NO LIFE LEFT HERE’

"Two-state" solution made manifest. This did not have to be, Hamas.

Who is the Real Unelected President?

 Christopher Chantrill 

. . ."It’s George Gilder. Thank goodness that our liberal friends don’t have a clue about it. But I think it is best not to tell our liberal friends about all this. DEI experts agree that it would make them feel “unsafe.”

"Our liberal friends were obsessed for a moment over Unelected President Elon Musk. But do you know, Google is hiding it. I checked Google Search and it was really hard to find a search result of some Democrat accusing Musk of being the Unelected President. But “constitutional crisis?” No problem: pages and pages of search results. So I guess our Democratic friends are looking to their judicial friends on the bench to stop the Trump Train. Because the Constitution.

"Still, I understand the concern of our liberal friends. If we shut down all the liberal grifts at USAID and the Department of Education that DOGE is discovering with its AI and LLM tools, then thousands of liberal grifter NGOs and their CEOs will go broke and house prices in D.C. and northern Virginia will collapse. Oh no! It’s already started!

"Of course, as usual, our liberal friends are wrong. They have been watching the wrong TV channel. The Unelected President is not Elon Musk, who, to me, is more of a StarShip on its way to Occupy Mars. No, the guy to watch is tech lord Marc Andreessen, as I have written at AT already. When he was on the Lex Fridman Podcast he accused the Democrats of breaking the deal with tech: “basically broke every part of that deal for people in my world,” the meanie jelly beanies.

"But that was then. I recently discovered that Marc Andreessen had done an interview with the New York Times’ Ross Douthat back in December 2024. Marc & Co. went to the White House in May 2024 to talk about AI. The Bidenoids told them:

We will implement [AI] in the Biden administration and in the second term. We are going to make sure that A.I. is going to be a function of two or three large companies. We will directly regulate and control those companies. There will be no start-ups.

"So how did the tech lords react? Not well, from the point of view of the Democratic Party." . . .

Democrat party now the biggest threat to world peace and freedom

Eric Utter

 "Most of you know the names: Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Gavin Newsom, Tim Walz, J.B. Pritzker, Kathy Hochul, George Soros, et al.  Hopefully, this doesn’t come as a shock to anybody, but these are not good people.

  "I have been quite blunt in my writings here over the past five years or so -- about the state of the nation, the West in general, the nature of the mainstream media, Democrats, and the hoaxes that the latter two have foisted on us.

"I have repeatedly noted how Democrats lie, gaslight, and project (their favorite tactic.)

"But I now have to say something some will consider patently extreme, and others may judge to be simple hyperbole: the Democrat party is the biggest threat to the planet -- on the planet -- today.

"Allow me to explain.

"Part and parcel of that is that, ironically, it is the biggest threat to democracy in America. It wants to abolish the Electoral College, dispense with the filibuster, make Puerto Rico the 51st state, grant statehood to the federal District of Columbia as well, pack the Supreme Court — and make it illegal to ask for I.D. at voting/polling places across the fruited plain, thereby inviting massive fraud and effectively disenfranchising countless citizen voters.

"On top of all this, it seeks to further eliminate its political opposition by fabricated character attacks, perpetual lawfare, and even assassination.

"But even this is not enough.

"Democrats seek to strip Americans of the inherent rights granted to each of us by our Creator. The right to free speech, assembly and religious association? Not if Democrats don’t care for the speech, cause, or religion involved. (You’re screwed if you’re a conservative Christian, for example.) The Second Amendment? Nope.
Whatever God granteth, Democrats taketh away. Or try to.

"And it isn’t just the formerly United States that suffers because of this. It has recently become crystal clear that Democrats and their favored big government and Deep State institutions are zealous proponents of wars and forever wars around the globe." . . .

Author Douglas Murray has criticised journalist Yvonne Ridley for “sick psychology” after she argued Hamas “extended acts of kindness upon Israel.”

"British broadcaster Julia Hartley Brewer was visibly floored when Ms Ridley claimed Hamas’ “goodie bags” represented acts of “kindness”. " 'These men have been put through absolute hell by barbarians in Hamas,” Mr Murray told Sky News host Rita Panahi. " 'You really do have to have the sort of sick psychology of Yvonne Ridley to believe that if at the end of it you get a so-called goodie bag … that you should at some way be applauded. “ 'Yvonne Ridley is going to be one of those sick Westerners who is going to have to find another death cult to attach herself to because she is not going to have many allies left.”

‘What a war crime looks like’: Sharri slams ‘cruelty’ inflicted on Israeli hostages

Eli Sharabi is the most heartbreaking case. Same terrorists who kidnapped him, murdered his wife and two daughters. They also kidnapped his brother and executed him in captivity. He was kept in chains in a tunnel, and had no knowledge of the outside world for the last year and a quarter.

 Yet, so many products of American education in their designer scarves stand with you, Hamas. Our so-called "best and brightest" screaming, led by obvious Middle-Eastern "students" holding, may we all assume(?) US visas. TD

A video from the Oct. 7th Massacre people should never forget.

                    Hamas terrorists murdered Bracha's grandmother in her own home.
             They then took her phone, filmed her butchered body & posted the video                    on the elderly woman’s Facebook page to hurt her family                                                               pic.twitter.com/L2nsBzxhiI

                         — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 17, 2025

Trump's 2024 Comeback Anthem - Wrecking Ball Parody

Corieosity Creations  Just found this site and enjoyed it. TD

"Get ready for the ultimate 2024 election anthem! This parody of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" is a hilarious take on Trump's potential comeback to the political stage. Imagine the energy of a Trump rally, amplified by this catchy tune that's sure to get stuck in your head. As the 2024 election heats up, this campaign anthem is the perfect blend of political commentary and humor. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this wrecking ball of a parody that's sure to spark some lively conversations about the upcoming election."

More here:  Corieosity Creations; Not my site, not connected with me in any way; I just enjoyed the art and creativity and hope it does well. TD

Is Kaitlan Collins Another Luigi Mangione Groupie? CNN Darling Reportedly Deletes Troublesome Texts

RedState

"Kaitlan Collins omits the fact that Mangione's defense attorney, the same one behind this website she is promoting, is a CNN contributor." Below.

 

"The story of alleged cold-blooded killer Luigi Mangione has revealed—or should I say, further revealed—an ugly underbelly of leftist notions of morality and decency in the modern age. Despite the fact that there is video showing the 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy family gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of New York City in December, there’s been a despicable amount of support for the young psychopath because, in their view, he did it for the right reasons. Namely, that he was objecting to the state of healthcare and the insurance industry.

"While it is a topic that many feel passionate about, it is not a reason to kill a husband and father—who Mangione had no direct ties to—in cold blood.

"He shot him in the back. Do you need to know anything else?

"Now CNN’s Kaitlan Collins has apparently gotten into the mix, according to reports:

CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins apparently deleted a social media post after receiving backlash for appearing to promote a defense fund for Luigi Mangione, the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer.

In the post on X, Collins showed a link to a new website launched by defense lawyers for Mangione, who faces charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism, stalking and other state and federal charges in New York and Pennsylvania for allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was a married father of two.

Mangione, 26, who was born into a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., on Dec. 9 after a multi-state manhunt. Following his arrest, followers donated over $300,000 for his legal defense.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Draws Heat from Conservatives Over Deleted Post Which Shared Link to Pro-Luigi Mangione Website    . . ."Conservatives accused Collins of promoting a fundraising site for Mangione’s defense. To be clear, the website Collins linked to essentially functions as a one-stop shop for those following the case to learn about the accused killer’s defense, track the schedule for upcoming proceedings, and hear directly from his attorneys. While the site is pro-Mangione, it does not directly raise funds for Mangione’s legal team — though it does prominently include information on how people can contribute to his defense fund, complete with a link to a third-party website.

"Critics on the right, though, believe Collins was passing the hat: . . .