This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – People say the worst thing imaginable for a parent is the loss of a child. The parents of the Israeli hostages languishing in Hamas captivity – particularly of late teenage and early-twenties women – seem to take this maxim and increase the pain and suffering, as little is known about what exact condition they are in.
A specially convened virtual press conference – titled "Nine Months in Captivity: Sexual Violence and the Fear of Forced Pregnancies" – between the Hostages Families Forum and Media Central, explored this vexed issue Tuesday evening.
Gilboa added she tries not to dwell on what might be, even expressing a feeling of optimism because there is a deal on the table, where there has been an assumption that humanitarian hostages – some women, the elderly or infirm, and children would be released first.
"We hope both sides want this deal -– but sometimes in negotiations, there are parties who try to make it hard for both sides. I call on [Prime Minister] Mr. [Benjamin] Netanyahu and the whole Israeli government to not give up – and make this deal. After 9 months it's too much. And to the international community, I call on them to do everything they can to get this deal signed."
Steinbrecher, whose now 31-year-old daughter Doron, which means "a gift" and is a veterinary nurse, was snatched by Hamas terrorists mere meters away from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Azza. She said she wished she could switch places with her daughter, and most of all she wanted her and all the other hostages to come home.
"It was terrible to see the Hamas surrounding our houses; I know she's alone there and I can't help her. We are afraid for the young women there. We must do everything we can to ensure there is a deal. We feel this might be the last opportunity to make one."
Berger, whose daughter Agam will turn 20 on Aug. 6, and who was kidnapped from Nahal Oz said it was important to talk to journalists: "I feel you are my voice to the world. Most people don't understand what is happening here."
His initial remarks centered around the assessment that several parties – the international community, a plurality at least of Palestinian society, and the majority of Israelis – want the war to end.
"The only way to stop this is to make Hamas give back all the hostages – both the living and the dead. We have to pressure Qatar; they could have stopped it by now if they had wanted. We continue to pressure the Israeli government and we call on Netanyahu to conclude the deal, before he goes to the United States to speak to Congress."
Leshem-Gonen was the final hostage parent to speak. Her daughter, Romi, who will turn 24 in August, is one of five children. She attended the Nova Music Festival and was shot in the hand while she was trying to escape with her friends in her car.
"I was on the phone with her for 45 minutes, and I could hear the terrorists' voices as they approached the car and said something about her still being alive. They dragged her by her hair – her beautiful hair, hurting her. She lifted her head for a moment and was instantly punched in the face."
Leshem-Gonen then had a moment that hundreds of parents of the dead and the missing have felt, namely the dissonance between being unsure of whether it was better for her daughter to have been killed or to have been taken alive. She said "It was joyful when we understood she was alive. And we have fought since Oct. 7 to bring her, the other girls, and everyone else back."
"The world is confused," she added. "It needs to be reminded of what is right and what is wrong. We are fighting the pure evil Hamas represents."
Dr. Yehene outlined key points regarding the psychological support and adaptation needed for potentially pregnant returning hostage: "The trauma of captivity coupled with the sexual abuse can have a profound, long-lasting impact on both physical and mental wellbeing. This may include symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression among others."
"The addition of potential pregnancy on top of the trauma of captivity can add layers of complexity to the recovery process. Not only for the returning hostages but also for the families who accompany them. The discovery of pregnancy can induce shock, confusion, fear, and conflicting emotions regarding the pregnancy itself. It's important to create a safe and non-judgmental environment to deal with their various needs. Lack of exposure to light, poor nutrition, and lack of access to medical care, their pregnancies are at greater risk. Pregnancy is a visible thing, something that can make them feel exposed; their trauma might feel like it is on public display, and we are approaching this topic with delicacy and care."
"The journey toward rehabilitation and recovery is expected to be a long-term one, and nonlinear. The public's investment in the hostages' return, getting attached to their stories without really knowing them before Oct. 7, naturally raises a lot of anticipation, hope, concern, curiosity, and more. Ensuring their privacy and keeping their dignity can be significantly important in their healing process."
In response to questions from journalists, the parents addressed two main issues; the international community's ignominious failure to take the accounts of rape and sexual assault seriously, and also whether Netanyahu's government was doing enough to secure the hostages' release.
On the former, Leshem-Gonen answered it was inconceivable "Israeli women were paraded around Gaza as trophies ... but they were not touched."
Meanwhile, there was a widespread belief "Israeli soldiers committed systematic acts of rape and sexual assault. The U.N. has some countries that just lie and use propaganda against Israel to deflect from the acts Hamas committed. It's too easy to lie today on social media."
Of the latter question, Berger answered very simply, "Our girls are not here, so can I say everyone is doing their best? We hope it will happen, we want our kids home and for our families to be reunited."
He added one of the most difficult thoughts to contend with, and one which is hard to forget.
"We can speak and we are trying to be strong for all our captives in Gaza, but many of the families are just too broken by this experience to say anything. Even if my daughter is returned, I don't want to stop the fight until the last hostage comes back from Gaza."
Leshem-Gonen concluded, "This is also the responsibility of the international community. Everyone is tied to everybody else. Where is the U.S. president? There are eight U.S. citizens held, and they don't seem to be doing very much. As the civilians of Israel, we have to make sure our leadership will do what we need them to do."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Joe Arpaio, who for years was known as "America's toughest sheriff" for having the inmates in his Maricopa, Arizona, County jails do community betterment projects while behind bars, is suing Joe Biden for falsely characterizing him as a convicted "felon."
The case is being handled by Larry Klayman in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida.
The false characterization came in an ad that Biden's campaign for the White House created and released to the public.
"I will not stand by and allow my great friend and client, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, to be smeared and defamed by a dishonest president and his Democrat henchmen simply to harm Trump’s presidential election prospects," explained Klayman, who has founded watchdog organizations Judicial Watch and FreedomWatchUSA.
"By equating the two men as 'felons,' the desperate Joe Biden, who not only is alleged to have taken bribes, laundered through his drug addict and true 'convicted felon' Hunter Biden, but who is now seen as essentially braindead with severe cognitive issues, I will not stand idly by to allow this falsehood to be perpetrated on the American public. Joe Biden and his evil clowns at Biden for President, Inc., will be held to legally account and to pay for their defamation of a good and patriotic man, which has contributed to serious threats against him," Klayman said.
Arpaio's reputation during his two decades plus as the Maricopa sheriff was enhanced by his decision to have inmates wear pink underwear after he found they were stealing the clothing when it was white. He also set up what essentially were chain gangs to perform public service projects.
The case explains, "The motive for this publication, which was alleged to be published with actual malice, was to tar Sheriff Arpaio and thus Trump, who Arpaio strongly supports, and thus Trump’s election prospects in Florida, the third largest state and a key one in any presidential contest."
Arpaio was found liable for a misdemeanor, contempt of court, during a years-long case over the county's handling of illegal aliens who were criminals. He then was pardoned by President Trump.
The Barack Obama administration had claimed the department overstepped the bounds set by the courts in pursuit of criminals.
Arpaio had served in the Army, as a police officer in Washington and Las Vegas, and with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He essentially came out of retirement to help Maricopa County in its fight against crime.
But he had been at odds with Obama because of the administration's tolerance for illegal immigration, a move that has reached a point of near-perfection under Joe Biden's open borders agenda.
His novel approach to law enforcement won him many elections. For example, he established chain gangs for inmates to contribute thousands of dollars of free labor to communities, painting over graffiti and cleaning streets.
He banned smoking, coffee, movies, pornographic magazines, and unrestricted TV in jails. His costs per meal for inmates ran between 15 cents and 40 cents. He provided pink underwear for inmates to wear, after learning that inmates were stealing white jailhouse boxers.
Subsequent reports confirmed that Arpaio's successor, a Democrat, also was looking at a possible contempt charge over the same issue involving the enforcement of the law against illegal aliens.
The case began in 2007 with the arrest of Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres, a Mexican immigrant. He later sued the agency and Arpaio, alleging he was racially profiled.
The case, against Biden and Biden for President, seeks millions of dollars in damages.
The complaint charges that last month, the Biden campaign's "Official Rapid Response Page" on Twitter, @BidenHQ, posted a video with the caption "Trump trae al escenario a Joe Arpaio, un criminal convicto que fue perdonado por Trump después de que perfiló racialmente y abusó de inmigrantes."
The complaint notes, "This is translated into the following: Trump brings to the stage Joe Arpaio, a convicted felon who was pardoned by Trump after he racially profiled and abused immigrants."
"In this post, the defamatory caption was accompanied by a video of Donald Trump at a campaign event where he introduced plaintiff Arpaio to the crowd. This defamatory post was posted on the Campaign’s Twitter page, at the direction of the defendants. As of the time of writing, this defamatory post was viewed nearly 26,000 times, including by an individual located in Hillsborough County, Florida. Thus, the intent behind this post was to (1) try to affect the 2024 presidential election, and specifically to try to win Florida, by falsely associating Trump with a 'convicted felon' and (2) to harm plaintiff Arpaio’s reputation."
It points out that the post was "directed at Florida voters as a form of election interference, and in particular at voters in Hillsborough County, which is one of the most important counties in deciding whether Florida’s electoral votes will go to Biden or Trump in the 2024 Presidential election."
But the post is "false, malicious, and defamatory because (1) Plaintiff Arpaio has never been convicted of a felony and (2) Plaintiff Arpaio has never been found to have 'abused immigrants.'"
The counts include defamation, defamation per se, and defamation by implication.
A receptionist at the White House switchboard, 202-456-1414, contacted by WND for a comment from a media officer, first grilled the reporter on what WND meant, and where it was located. Then she instructed that she had no one available to comment.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The growing threat from China in the South and East China seas forced two U.S. allies in Asia to form a historic defense pact Monday which will let both countries have greater access to troops and deployment.
In the Philippine capital city of Manila, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement – a landmark document that set the framework for deployment of military personnel to each country's territories for joint operations and training exercises.
The agreement will allow Japan to fully participate as a member of the Balikatan drills between the U.S. and the Philippines, rather than just as an observer as it has in previous years.
Disputes over territory have grown exponentially in recent months. The Philippine coastguard recently clashed with Chinese forces in the South China Sea, while Japan has accused China of violating territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Japan’s Kamikawa said in an announcement that the alliance is to promote security and defense cooperation.
"As the security environment in the region becomes increasingly severe, the signing of this important security-related agreement with the Philippines…will further promote security and defense cooperation between the two countries and firmly support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," Kamikawa said in the announcement.
Japan and the Philippines started negotiations on the agreement in November 2023. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised the new agreement in a post on X.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Nations that allow Muslim terror organizations to exist, even if they are minority groups, increasingly are facing the threat of deadly violence from them, according to a new report.
It is the Gatestone Institute that confirms Uganda, for example, has faced a growing threat from Islamic groups including Allied Democratic Forces-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda and the Islamic State.
"Uganda and other African nations – especially Sudan, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ivory Coast, Mali, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritania, Cameroon, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tanzania – are increasingly suffering at the hands of radical Islamists," the report confirmed.
"They are proof of how much even majority non-Muslim, secular nations are vulnerable at the hands of jihadist groups. To prevent jihadists from massacring, abusing or enslaving non-Muslims, and taking over the continent, countries need immediately to crack down on all extremist groups. Do not grant them space to operate."
An example of the violence is the attack on a Christian boarding school in Uganda just about a year ago. Islamic terrorists there murdered 42 people.
The terrorists invaded the grounds of the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School and "firebombed student dormitories."
"Students fleeing the fire were either gunned down or hacked to death with machetes. Students trapped in the dormitories burned to death as the terrorists shouted 'Allahu akbar!' … Some of the victims' bodies, burnt beyond recognition, required DNA testing to identify them. Six students were kidnapped," the report confirmed.
The report explained a "majority" in Uganda, 49.7 million, is Christian. And Muslims are 14% of the population.
Even so, "Uganda has faced a growing threat from radical Islamic groups" that target Christians.
In other attacks by Muslim terrorists, a honeymoon couple and their guide were murdered, and an attack on a village left a 75-year-old woman and her two grandchildren dead.
Open Doors confirms, "ADF-NALU, formed in 1995, aims to establish an Islamic state in Uganda and has been a recurrent source of violence. Its founder, Jamil Mukulu, was arrested in 2015 and faces multiple charges, including terrorism. ADF-NALU operatives, trained in North Kivu (DRC), continue to infiltrate Uganda. ADF-NALU has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Meanwhile, ISIS has also claimed responsibility for various attacks."
Other terror groups are deploying "trained fighters" there and using explosives to target and kill.
Open Doors added, "In parts of Uganda, especially in the eastern region where the Muslim community makes up the majority, the hostility faced by Christians, particularly by converts from Islam, is severe. Christians in these areas are frequently targeted for bullying and harassment that can escalate to severe consequences like community expulsion, physical assaults, and in extreme cases, even killings."
The report noted Africa "has become a major focus of ISIS' post-caliphate strategy, and Uganda appears to be one of the jihadists' targets."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The now-deceased shooter who killed three children and three adults at Nashville's Covenant school a year ago had been diagnosed with five mental health disorders, according to a new report from the Tennessee Star.
The report explains that's what her parents, Ronald and Norma Hale, told Metro Nashville police in 2023 during an interview.
The parents, with their lawyer, "provided the list of mental disorders after MNPD investigators questioned whether Audrey Hale was formally diagnosed with autism," the report explained.
Those issues, the report said, were identified as "anxiety disorder, social phobia, dysthymia disorder, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder."
The diagnosis came in 2011 when she was in high school, the report said.
Those with an anxiety disorder could “respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread” or “experience physical signs of anxiety, such as a pounding heart and sweating,” according to the Cleveland Clinic, which similarly explains that social phobia causes “fear and anxiety” when “around people in social situations.”
The report citing various sources, said dysthymia disorder is a persistent depressive disorder characterized by chronic depression that is not as severe as some, but lasts longer, while major depressive disorder is when "an individual has a persistently low or depressed mood, anhedonia or decreased interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, lack of energy, poor concentration" and more.
Further autism spectrum disorder has symptoms appearing early in life and is characterized by limited interests, repetitive behaviors, and difficulty communicating.
The report explained, "Ronald Hale and Norma Hale told MNPD investigators that Audrey Hale was given the diagnosis after a series of tests were administered by an individual who appears to be employed by Vanderbilt University and affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where police documents revealed Audrey Hale was a 22-year mental health patient before her March 27, 2023, attack…"
Audrey Hale also was evaluated twice for commitment at VUMC after episodes of suicide ideation, but was not committed, the report said.
The report noted, "Star News Digital Media, Inc., which owns and operates The Star, and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy are plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuits which seek to compel both MNPD and the FBI to release Audrey Hale’s full writings, including those sometimes called a manifesto."