INTERNACIONAL
American-Israeli held hostage in Gaza for over 580 days sends message to Hamas: ‘I’ll give you hell’
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U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, who was released from Gaza in May after being held hostage for 584 days, is once again wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniform and stands ready to fight Hamas.
«I know the language, I know their culture, I know a lot of things about these demons. I just told myself there’s no way I’ll take this present and put it aside. I have to use it and return it,» Alexander said while speaking at the site of the Nova music festival massacre.
«I wanted [Hamas] to see I’ll never break, and that I’ll return the favor. You gave me hell? I’ll give you hell,» he added.
DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGES’ MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WHAT THEY ENDURED IN CAPTIVITY
Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, returned to his hometown of Tenafly, N.J., on June 19. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Alexander, a New Jersey native, also said it was the first time since his release from captivity that he was in uniform near the Gaza border.
The former hostage was addressing a group of over 1,000 Christian pastors, youth leaders, educators and social media influencers, who are attending a week-long summit in Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. The event, known as the Ambassador Summit 2025, included several speakers, such as U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, meets with former Hamas hostage Edan Alexander. (Shlomi Amsalem)
TRUMP MEETS FORMER HAMAS HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER ON OCT. 7 ANNIVERSARY
Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, and Aviva and Keith Siegel, all of whom are former Hamas hostages, also addressed the groups. The Times of Israel reported that the released hostages also received the «Here Am I Award» from Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion (FOZ) museum in Jerusalem, one of the groups behind the summit.
Alexander also said he would share with the IDF information about Hamas that he gathered while in captivity.
Edan Alexander speaks with loved ones following his release. (IDF)
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In September, Alexander announced at an event for «Friends of the IDF» that he intended to return to his military service. He said the 584 days he spent in captivity were «the hardest days of my life. Days of struggle, pain and separation from my family,» The Times of Israel reported.
«Next month, God willing, I will return to Israel. I will once again, put on the IDF uniform, and I will proudly serve alongside my brothers,» Alexander said, according to The Times of Israel. «My story does not end with survival. It continues with service.»
At the time of his release, Alexander was the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza.
world,israel,hamas,middle east
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The Trump administration is reshaping when Americans can enter national parks for free – adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as a fee-free day while eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth in a move already drawing criticism from civil rights leaders.
Although presidents often revise the list, the changes are sparking criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers who say the removals undercut holidays that honor Black Americans’ history and contributions.
The shift in free-entry days marks a notable break from the 2025 calendar, which leaned heavily on long-established public lands celebrations and civil rights observances.
This year’s lineup included Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, National Public Lands Day, and the kickoff to National Park Week – all of which disappear under the 2026 schedule.
TOP TRUMP DEPARTMENT ROLLS OUT CHRISTMAS TREE SAVINGS PLAN: ‘MAKING THIS SEASON BRIGHTER’
Yosemite National Park visitors take a look at El Capitan rock formation and Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley in California. (Craig Kohlruss/Fresno Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In their place, the Trump administration has added a slate of historically themed or presidentially-aligned dates. President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14 becomes a fee-free day for the first time, as do Constitution Day, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, and the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt.
The agency is also shifting some observances to federal holidays with broader national recognition, including Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day and a three-day Independence Day weekend.
YOSEMITE RANGERS BUST OUTLAW JUMPERS OFF EL CAP — ZERO TOLERANCE, SHUTDOWN OR NOT
The Trump administration is making changes to which days the public will be able to access National Parks for free in 2026, adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as one day, and removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. (Rick Bowner/AP Photo)
Veterans Day remains the lone date carried over from both years, underscoring how dramatically the free-day calendar is being remade heading into 2026.
FOX 5 in DC reported that some civil rights leaders have voiced opposition to the changes.
National Parks Conservation Association spokesperson Kristen Brengel told the station that the elimination of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is concerning, adding that the day had become a popular day of service for community groups that use it to conduct volunteer projects at the parks.
SQUATTERS TAKE OVER YOSEMITE AS SHUTDOWN LEAVES POPULAR NATIONAL PARK WITH FEW RANGERS: REPORT
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., also weighed in on the changes in a post on X on Friday.
«Let’s be clear here: both MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth were free entry days last year,» she wrote. «The President didn’t just add his own birthday to the list, he removed both of these holidays that mark Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better.»
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House regarding the changes.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS ARE AT A CROSSROADS. HERE’S HOW CONGRESS CAN PROTECT THEM
An entrance sign for Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Department of Interior is pairing the new free-day schedule with a broader overhaul of how visitors access national parks beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The agency is rolling out fully digital America the Beautiful passes – including annual, military, senior, fourth-grade and access passes – that can be purchased and displayed on mobile devices through Recreation.gov. Visitors will be able to activate passes instantly and still link them to physical cards if needed.
Officials say updated validation tools and new training for park staff are intended to speed up entrance lines and simplify visitor experiences across the system.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES IT WILL RESTORE, REINSTATE STATUE HONORING CONFEDERATE GENERAL ALBERT PIKE
Yellowstone National Park sign and entrance. President Trump added his birthday to the list of dates that people can enter national parks for free. (iStock)
«President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,» Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said. «These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.»
The department is also refreshing annual pass designs with new patriotic artwork that will appear on both digital and physical versions.
Alongside the digital rollout, the administration announced it is shifting its fee structure to emphasize lower costs for U.S. residents and higher prices for international visitors.
The annual pass will remain $80 for Americans but jump to $250 for nonresidents. Foreign visitors who do not hold a pass will pay an added $100 per person at 11 of the most visited national parks.
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The agency is also broadening access for motorcycle riders by allowing all America the Beautiful passes to cover two motorcycles instead of one.
Interior officials say the increased revenue from higher nonresident fees will be directed toward facility upgrades, maintenance projects, and visitor services across the park system.
national parks,donald trump,parks
INTERNACIONAL
Chechen leader threatens Zelenskyy amid drone strike, echoes alleged assassination plot
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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s threats against Ukraine following a drone strike echo a 2022 plot to infiltrate Kyiv and target President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former Ukrainian government official has said.
The leader’s latest threat came after a Ukrainian drone reportedly struck a high-rise building near Kadyrov’s home in Grozny on Nov. 5.
The strike prompted the Chechen strongman to vow retaliation in an online video post, according to Reuters.
«This new threat would just be another assassination threat for Zelenskyy. The Chechens are really serious about revenge,» a former government official told Fox News Digital.
RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES HIT US COMPANY IN MASSIVE UKRAINE STRIKE AMID TRUMP’S PEACE PUSH
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov smiles prior to Russian-UAE talks on December 6, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images)
«But in Kyiv they are not panicking about this like they were in 2022,» the former official said under condition of anonymity.
«Zelenskyy is now better protected, feels more powerful and is less fragile,» they said.
The recent Ukrainian strike, reported by Reuters, hit the 28-story Grozny-City tower that sits roughly 830 meters from Kadyrov’s home.
TRUMP EYES NEW SANCTIONS ON PUTIN AFTER LARGEST-EVER DRONE ATTACK
Ramzan Kadyrov is one of Vladimir Putin’s most aggressive enforcers. (Rob Welham/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Kadyrov, who is loyal to Russia, later allegedly confirmed the attack in a Telegram post, stating there were no casualties, but he condemned the strike as making «no tactical sense.»
He also warned that retaliation was imminent.
«Starting tomorrow and in the course of the week, the Ukrainian fascists will be feeling a stern response,» he threatened.
Unlike Ukraine’s strike, he added, «we will not be making a cowardly strike on peaceful targets,» per Reuters.
Ukrainian attacks have hit sites in Chechnya before now, including a police barracks and a training academy. Chechen units were also deployed during Russia’s 2022 invasion and were among the Kremlin’s most loyal forces.
RUSSIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE DRONE AND MISSILE BARRAGE ON UKRAINE HITTING KYIV, OTHER TARGETS THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Russian and Chechen soldiers in a devastated Mariupol neighborhood close to the Azovstal frontline. (Maximilian Clarke/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
At the time of the 2022 invasion, the official said there was intense anxiety in Kyiv.
«At the beginning of the large-scale invasion in 2022, Chechens were sent to Kyiv to murder top politicians,» the former official said.
«This included Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top politicians from the government and security services and Parliament, and many other agencies.
«Zelenskyy and Yermak were very scared,» they claimed. «They were calling from the office, asking some people in the military and security service to secure the metro station in Kyiv.»
The source said one metro station in Kyiv was a potential infiltration route for the Chechens into Zelenskyy’s presidential bunker.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE LEAVES 25 DEAD IN TERNOPIL AFTER MASSIVE OVERNIGHT STRIKES
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kyiv on February 26, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images)
At the time, the station in Kyiv that was deep underground and near the presidential bunker, was viewed as the most vulnerable entry route, the source said.
«They were afraid that Chechens would get to the bunker through this metro station, but in the end the Chechens were killed before they reached Kyiv.
«They tried to reach Kyiv, somehow downtown, somehow via the river, but it’s quite a complicated way to get there,» the former official said.
Meanwhile, with the Nov. 5. Grozny strike landing so close to his home, Kadyrov, already one of Putin’s most aggressive enforcers, is signaling a harsher stance as attacks reach inside Russian territory.
The Moscow Times reported that the drone struck a building that houses regional government offices, including the Chechen Security Council and agencies connected to tourism and religious affairs.
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Despite the rhetoric, the former Ukrainian official claimed Zelenskyy is unfazed this time around.
«These days, Zelenskyy isn’t afraid of Kadyrov’s actions against him or the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy is feeling very powerful right now,» they added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment.
volodymyr zelenskyy,ukraine,russia,vladimir putin,wars
INTERNACIONAL
Panamá se ofreció a recibir a miembros de la dictadura de Nicolás Maduro para facilitar una transición en Venezuela
Panamá afirmó que está dispuesto a asumir un papel de mediación entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela en un contexto marcado por el incremento de la presión internacional sobre el régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
El vicecanciller panameño, Carlos Hoyos, explicó que el país centroamericano analiza opciones para facilitar un canal diplomático directo entre Washington y Caracas, incluida la posibilidad de brindar acogida temporal a personas vinculadas al entorno de Maduro, como parte de un eventual proceso de negociación.
“El presidente José Raúl Mulino ha sido claro en que, si se requiere recibir a ciertos actores para facilitar un acuerdo, Panamá estaría dispuesto a evaluarlo de forma temporal”, declaró Hoyos durante su participación en el Foro de Doha.
Las declaraciones se producen meses después de que ambos países reactivaran parcialmente los servicios consulares, un vínculo que había quedado en pausa tras las objeciones de Panamá a las elecciones presidenciales venezolanas de 2024.
En aquel proceso, Maduro fue declarado vencedor en medio de denuncias de manipulación electoral. Estados Unidos y varios gobiernos de la región cuestionaron la transparencia de los resultados, mientras la oposición venezolana argumentó que el proceso se desarrolló sin garantías.
El incremento de tensiones también coincide con el despliegue de unidades militares estadounidenses en el Caribe. Washington sostiene que la operación busca frenar redes de narcotráfico, pero la dictadura chavista afirma que se trata de una maniobra que podría servir como plataforma para acciones orientadas a forzar un cambio político.
En una declaración reciente, Maduro aseguró que “Venezuela enfrenta una amenaza inaceptable” y acusó a Estados Unidos de promover “una política de presión permanente”.
A esto se suma el aviso emitido por la Administración Federal de Aviación de Estados Unidos, que instó a las aerolíneas a extremar la precaución durante vuelos sobre Venezuela y áreas del sur del Caribe.
El comunicado advirtió sobre un “entorno operativo impredecible” en la región, lo que generó efectos inmediatos en la conectividad aérea hacia y desde el país sudamericano, ya afectado por restricciones previas.
Panamá observa estos desarrollos con preocupación, en particular por la posible repercusión en el Canal, uno de los principales corredores marítimos del comercio global.
Hoyos recalcó que cualquier hecho que altere la estabilidad regional podría afectar el tránsito seguro.
“El Canal es crítico para el comercio internacional y para nuestra economía. Una interrupción tendría efectos globales”, explicó.
Autoridades panameñas han recordado que cada año la vía genera ingresos esenciales para el presupuesto estatal y sostiene una porción significativa del movimiento marítimo entre Asia, Norteamérica y Europa.
Respecto al papel de Estados Unidos en la protección de la vía interoceánica, Hoyos sostuvo que ambos países mantienen coordinación técnica constante.
“Estados Unidos siempre ha mostrado interés en garantizar que el Canal opere sin interrupciones”, afirmó.
Agregó que Panamá preserva el principio de neutralidad establecido por los tratados que regulan el funcionamiento de la ruta marítima.
Las relaciones entre Washington y Panamá habían sufrido fricciones a comienzos de año tras declaraciones del presidente Donald Trump, quien comentó que su administración buscaría “revisar la situación del Canal”.
Aquellas palabras generaron inquietud política dentro de Panamá, pero Hoyos señaló que el episodio quedó atrás.
“Ese impás está totalmente superado. Hoy las conversaciones se concentran en comercio, migración y seguridad”, dijo.
Funcionarios estadounidenses han reiterado en múltiples ocasiones que su interés principal consiste en mantener el funcionamiento estable de la vía.
Las autoridades panameñas esperan que la mediación contribuya a evitar un deterioro mayor en la relación entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela.
Según Hoyos, cualquier incidente de carácter militar en el Caribe tendría consecuencias inmediatas en la región. La postura de Panamá busca reducir la incertidumbre en un escenario donde se combinan tensiones geopolíticas, disputas electorales en Venezuela y decisiones de seguridad adoptadas por Estados Unidos.
(Con información de EFE)
Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,North America,NEW YORK CITY
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