An Iranian hacker group calling itself "Promised Revenge" claimed that it has successfully breached the infrastructure of the Knesset website. According to the hackers, who posted the information on their Telegram channel, they managed to steal sensitive data and send SMS messages to millions of Israeli citizens.

As of now, the Knesset website is unavailable and displays a maintenance message. This is not the first time the site has been down; in recent weeks, the website has been inaccessible multiple times, displaying the same message and preventing access.

As part of the supposed evidence of the breach, the group released several screenshots they claim were taken from the Knesset's internal network. However, they did not provide additional information to verify their claims. The hackers also claim that they sent around 4 million SMS messages to Israeli citizens, purportedly on behalf of the Knesset. If this claim is verified, it raises serious concerns about the security of Israeli state institutions.

In response, the Knesset's spokesperson stated: "The Knesset website contains public information available as part of the 'Transparent Knesset' project, which aims to make information accessible to citizens. The Knesset's Cyber Department identified a suspected hacking attempt and successfully blocked it in real-time. It should be emphasized that the Knesset website is isolated from other Knesset networks, and at this stage, there is no concern about the leak of sensitive or current information that could be used. For added security, the Knesset's cyber teams, in collaboration with the National Cyber Directorate, continue to conduct checks."

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Israeli tech entrepreneur Oudi Anetbi is shaking up the music industry with an AI-powered system that can generate multiple versions of songs in seconds. The innovation, developed by his startup HitCraft from Session42, aims to democratize music production by drastically reducing time and costs.

As technology continues to reshape our world, the music industry is experiencing its own seismic shift. Anetbi, the CEO and co-founder, has created an artificial intelligence system capable of producing endless song variations in seconds, a process that traditionally takes days and significant studio expenses.

A seasoned player in the tech world, Anetbi boasts several notable exits. He sold his company RedKix to Meta for tens of millions of dollars, with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich among the investors.

In an exclusive chat with Israel Hayom, Anetbi unveiled his vision, "We set out to build a music production machine, recognizing that in commercial music, producers often create the hits. But not every musician can afford pricey studio time."

The company has already made waves in artist management, notably with Eden Golan, Israel's Eurovision representative. Their first major breakthrough was an AI-generated duet featuring Ofra Haza and Zohar Argov – the first such song to hit Israeli airwaves.

"Think of our system as your virtual producer," Anetbi explains. "You feed a sketch into a chatbot, specify your preferences, and within minutes, you've got a polished track. It's revolutionary and accessible to everyone."

Users can download the output and tweak it themselves. For professionals, it's a time-saver, helping nail down concepts without endless meetings. Amateurs can add their personal flair, while even beginners can afford a 'producer' to create any music they desire.

Addressing concerns about AI music lacking human touch and infringing on copyrights, Anetbi assures their model is industry-friendly: "We continuously incorporate human-produced tracks, compensating producers each time their work is used. This keeps our system learning and evolving while ensuring fair compensation."

He distinguishes his technology from other AI music apps like Suno AI, "We have strict guidelines for using human artists' music and productions, prioritizing quality and accuracy."

Proposing a solution to copyright issues, Anetbi suggests, "We need a new royalty model where artists are paid when their name is used in a prompt."

While some fear the loss of creativity, Anetbi sees AI as a tool, not a replacement, "We're here for creators who want help bringing their ideas to life. This technology opens doors and boosts productivity."

The post Amplifying creativity: Israeli AI startup promises instant hits appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Over the past week, social media platforms have transformed into an unexpected battleground between two communities with a long history of collaboration: progressive African Americans and Americans of Palestinian and Arab descent. The dispute, which rapidly spread across the internet, centers on voting intentions in the upcoming US presidential election, revealing underlying tensions and conflicting priorities.

The digital conflagration was sparked on TikTok when content creator Tori Grier shared her intention to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. What seemed like a routine political statement quickly became a flashpoint when an anonymous commenter demanded she remove the Palestinian flag from her profile. Grier's response – removing the flag and declaring an end to her public support for the Palestinian cause – ignited a heated debate that spread like wildfire across social media platforms.

This is the time to be having these conversations. Listen when people tell you who they are. pic.twitter.com/iRZgGAsu0o

— Jake + the derg (@jakefromgeorgia) August 12, 2024

The situation reached its boiling point during a TikTok livestream between Grier and Palestinian content creator Maya Abdallah. What began as a discussion quickly evolved into a heated verbal confrontation, punctuated by moments where Abdallah repeatedly muted Grier. This highly-viewed interaction became the catalyst for a widespread debate on social media between the two communities, exposing deep-seated differences and conflicting priorities.

From TikTok, the argument quickly spilled over to other platforms. On X (formerly Twitter), the use of the term "watermelon people" to describe Palestinians and their supporters emerged – a phrase that sparked considerable outrage. This nickname, referring to the use of the watermelon symbol in place of the Palestinian flag, originated shortly after the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It was initially adopted to circumvent Meta's algorithm, which was removing political posts related to the conflict. In response, Palestinian and pro-Palestinian content creators leveraged various platforms to articulate their position, arguing that their criticism was directed at those claiming Harris would benefit the Palestinian cause, rather than against voting for her in general.

The watermelon people picked the wrong folks to fight with. This will not end well for them.

— Lori Granito (@lorigspeaks) August 12, 2024

It's crucial to note that this current dispute is just one facet of the multitude of deep-seated controversies sweeping American society in recent months, as the nation finds itself in a particularly charged election year. The upcoming US presidential election has set the stage for a potentially historic moment. With Kamala Harris on the ticket, the nation faces the prospect of electing its first Black woman to the presidency. For many African Americans, this represents a watershed moment in the long struggle for representation and political empowerment.

However, this potential milestone has created a complex dilemma for other minority communities, including Arab and Palestinian Americans. These groups find themselves torn between the desire to support a historic candidacy and deep-seated concerns about US foreign policy, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the digital age, social media has become the primary arena where these nuanced discussions unfold, exposing the intricate tapestry of identity issues in American society.

For many voters, the decision of whom to support involves a delicate balance of considerations including ethnic identity, political ideology, and loyalties to ancestral homelands. This online debate has brought to the forefront the challenges faced by minority communities in navigating their multiple identities and allegiances within the American political landscape.

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During the Roman rule in the Land of Israel, a small yet violent group of Jewish rebels terrorized the streets of Jerusalem. The Sicarii, named after the short, curved dagger they carried ("sica" in Latin), were known for their brutal terror tactics and their determination to fight against Roman rule and its supporters.

Their story, which combines religious zealotry, national struggle, and extreme violence, continues to fascinate scholars and archaeologists to this day. So if you thought that the Jewish people's involvement in assassinations and targeted killings only began with the establishment of Israel and the creation of the Shin Bet and Mossad, it turns out that there is a long and ancient history to this practice.

Historical sources and archaeological evidence

Historical sources, primarily the writings of Josephus Flavius, describe the Sicarii as an extremist group that emerged from the Zealot movement. While the Zealots advocated active resistance against the Romans, the Sicarii took it a step further: they believed that only through extreme violence could the Romans be expelled from the Land of Israel and an independent Jewish kingdom reestablished.

In addition to written sources, archaeological findings provide further insights into the activities of the Sicarii. Excavations at Masada, which began in the 1960s, uncovered significant evidence of their presence at the site. Coins inscribed with "For the Freedom of Zion," weapons including swords, bows, and arrows, and fragments of papyrus with Hebrew inscriptions were found.

Tactics of terror and violence

The Sicarii employed methods that included assassinations, kidnappings, and other acts of violence. They would blend into crowds during festivals and holidays, when the city was bustling with people, and stab their opponents using the sica, the short dagger easily concealed under their clothing. After committing the murder, they would join the shocked crowd and feign innocence, making it very difficult to capture them.

It should be noted that the Sicarii's victims were not only Romans but also Jews suspected of collaborating with the foreign rulers. One of their most notable victims was Jonathan ben Ananus, the High Priest, who was murdered in 56 CE.

Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered indirect evidence of the Sicarii's activities, dating to the period of the revolt, including weapons such as arrowheads and sling stones. The Israel Museum displays a short Roman dagger from the first century CE, which may resemble the type of weapon used by the Sicarii.

Role in the Great Revolt

The Sicarii played a significant role in igniting the Great Revolt against Rome in 66 CE. They were among the first to attack the Romans in Jerusalem and took control of Masada during the revolt, turning it into their stronghold.

However, it's important to note that the Sicarii did not hesitate to harm other Jews. They burned granaries and food stores in Jerusalem to force its inhabitants to join the revolt and attacked Jewish settlements that refused to support their cause.

Archaeological findings from the caves in the Judean Desert, including coins from the revolt period and documents concerning land and property matters, provide additional insights into this turbulent time and shed a not-so-positive light on the activities of the Sicarii.

Their Tragic End

After Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 CE, the Sicarii retreated to Masada. They held out for about three years until the Romans managed to breach the fortress's walls. According to Josephus Flavius, when they realized defeat was imminent, the Sicarii chose mass suicide over falling into the enemy's hands.

Archaeological findings at Masada corroborate parts of this story, with evidence of a major battle at the site and preparations for a prolonged siege. However, the exact interpretation of these findings remains a subject of debate among scholars.

A Controversial Legacy

The Sicarii remain a topic of discussion and controversy among historians and scholars of Judaism. While some view them as brave freedom fighters who resisted foreign occupation, others consider them an extremist terrorist group that contributed to the destruction of the Second Temple and the Kingdom of Judah.

Inscriptions from the period, such as one found on a shard in the City of David excavations reading "For the Freedom of Jerusalem," reflect the revolutionary atmosphere of the time but also highlight the heavy cost of the revolt.

What is clear is that the Sicarii were a significant force during a tumultuous period in Jewish history. The combination of archaeological evidence and historical sources provides a rich and complex picture of their activities and the period of the Great Revolt overall.

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The outbreak of the war on Oct. 7 exposed significant technological and management deficiencies within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), prompting a radical shift in its approach to military technology. The prevailing paradigm proved woefully inadequate for the new reality that emerged, necessitating a rapid overhaul of military systems and procedures.

This pressing need for swift solutions has sparked a technological revolution within the IDF. The transformation, while not without its challenges, has been driven by the ingenuity and dedication of skilled engineering teams called up for reserve duty. These professionals have been tasked with delivering rapid results under intense pressure and difficult conditions.

Omer Perry, a faculty member in the Industrial Engineering and Management Department at Afeka College, shared his experience with Israel Hayom: "I received my call-up order, and within seven days, during which we barely slept, we established a system that didn't exist in the IDF before." At the behest of his commanders, Perry and his team developed an operational system within a week that continues to serve the Air Force's Aerial Defense Array to this day.

Video: Iron Dome interceptions of Hezbollah rockets near Kiryat Shemona in Northern Israel.

While specific details of the system remain classified for security reasons, it exemplifies the crucial contribution of civilian expertise to the war effort. "Our goal was to optimize processes that were previously performed almost entirely manually, which had been slowing down decision-making in the system," Perry explained.

He emphasized the critical nature of their work in the context of modern warfare: "During conflict, situations change rapidly, requiring swift analysis and decision-making. When you have a system that can automatically analyze events and present data, it dramatically improves the speed and quality of decisions, allowing for rapid problem-solving and ultimately leading to better results on the battlefield."

Perry stressed the importance of maintaining a strong core of technical professionals within the military, particularly given the ever-evolving nature of threats. He argued for the necessity of regular training for technical reservists, equating its importance to that of combat training.

"The IDF must maintain a strong core of professionals"

Perry described the dynamic reality of the current conflict, highlighting a significant shift in threats. "Previously, our main concern was missiles. Now, we're dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," he explained. "This change has completely transformed our analytical approach within the military, requiring both cognitive flexibility and rapid adaptation of our systems. Our engineering teams have been at the forefront of this transition."

Emphasizing the practical implications, he stated "The IDF absolutely must maintain a strong core of professionals." He stressed the critical nature of this requirement, especially given the rapidly evolving threat landscape. "In an environment where threats are constantly changing, our reserve teams need to be exceptionally focused and highly skilled," Perry asserted.

"Maintaining cutting-edge technological expertise requires ongoing training for our technical reservists," he argued. "This is just as crucial as regular drills for combat troops. We must ensure our technological arsenal remains up-to-date and relevant to today's threats."

"The IDF's problem is its DNA"

Dr. Adi Fux, head of the Master's program in Engineering and Management at Afeka College, who was also called up for reserve duty as a senior officer in the Technology and Logistics Directorate, echoed Perry's sentiments. "There was no optimization of systems in the IDF at all, and everything was conducted very slowly, wastefully, and inefficiently," Fux shared.

According to Fux, the significant change that occurred in the IDF stemmed from the immediate pressure created at the start of the war. "In this war, the IDF received a gift in the form of the engineers it recruited, who are constantly under pressure, causing them to independently find engineering solutions and develop tools that the military hadn't previously considered."

"However, the IDF's problem is its DNA," he shared. "In many cases, senior commanders came to us demanding solutions while also telling us how they wanted us to achieve them. In engineering, it doesn't work that way, and we had to set very clear boundaries with top-ranking officers. They can tell us what to do, but as a professional body, we'll say how things will happen. This is a way of thinking that the IDF wasn't used to until now," he explained.

"A bureaucratic nightmare that was impossible to work with"

Fux cited an example of the inefficiency that had previously dominated some branches of technology in the IDF, which he encountered personally. "We received a 20-page protocol, a bureaucratic nightmare that was impossible to read or work with, which we were told 'was formulated by the highest ranks,'" he shared. "I had to say, respectfully of course, that I don't really care who formulated the protocol because that's not how work gets done. I passed the protocol to one of our team members, who condensed it into a concise document of about one and a half pages. This new version integrated engineering principles into the decision-making process. It's now functioning nearly flawlessly, with tangible results in the field."

"The IDF must retain the knowledge gained from the engineers"  

"This conflict has made the IDF realize it must retain the knowledge gained from the hundreds of engineers mobilized during the war, even after they complete their service," Fux explained. "I believe it's now clear to everyone that we need to extend the service of engineering officers in the military. You can't preserve knowledge or develop deep learning processes when technical officers are rotated out of their positions every year or two."

Addressing the challenge of retaining high-caliber officers long-term, especially given the allure of prestigious positions in the tech industry, Fux offered a nuanced perspective. "Often, it's not about salary," he argued. "The real issue lies in the conditions under which these officers serve."

"The IDF must adapt to the realities of the modern world," Fux argued. He suggested emulating aspects of the US military model, which offers technical officers working conditions more comparable to civilian roles. "You can't expect people in their 40s and up, with families and kids, to work around the clock and constantly deal with stress and last-minute changes. We must change our approach, provide better conditions, and most importantly, give appropriate respect to technical officers as a professional body that has a crucial rule in decision-making processes," he concluded.

The post IDF's covert technological revolution amid Gaza war appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, cybersecurity expert Rafael Franco reveals the escalating cyber threats facing Israel. With daily attacks causing billions in economic damage, Franco warns of a potential catastrophic strike on critical infrastructure, highlighting the dangerous collaboration between Iranian and Russian cyber capabilities.

Since the beginning of the Iron Swords war, Israel has been grappling with a daily wave of thousands of cyber attacks, primarily from pro-Palestinian and Iranian sources. A report published about a month ago by Israel's National Cyber Directorate estimates the economic damage from these attacks at no less than 12 billion shekels per year.

To understand the scale and significance of the cyber front Israel is facing, one need only look at the attacks carried out in recent weeks. About two weeks ago, the pharmaceutical company Rekah was forced to shut down its distribution system due to security breach concerns. Prior to that, a real estate website was disabled following a similar attack, and in an equally serious incident that occurred about a month ago, hackers breached the databases of the leading law firm Goldfarb Seligman.

In a conversation with Israel Hayom, Rafael Franco, founder and CEO of the cyber crisis management company Code Blue and former Deputy Head of the National Cyber Directorate, assesses that "despite the damage they caused, these attacks have actually made the Israeli economy's recovery capacity much more efficient. We see businesses that were attacked managing to return to routine relatively quickly, which is very important."

Franco states, "Despite this improved recovery capability, Israel still faces a critical strategic vulnerability: the centralized management of our national infrastructure. How many 'Israel Electric Corporation' are there? How many 'Mekorot' [Israel's water company] companies are there? The country consists of a few companies that are the exclusive providers of strategic infrastructures."

"A massive cyberattack, one that disrupts the supply of electricity or water flow in Israel, is an event that can disrupt an entire country. If in the past Iranian efforts focused mainly on small and medium Israeli organizations with low levels of defense and awareness, in recent years Iran has been making enormous efforts to carry out a critical infrastructure attack against national companies," he claims.

"An event of this magnitude, if successful, could lead to a real disaster. Additionally, the Iranians understand very well how much of a moral blow this would be, causing enormous damage to the State of Israel and its citizens," Franco explains.

How close are the Iranians to carrying out such an attack?

"In recent months, starting from October, we have indeed witnessed a dramatic increase in attack attempts against various entities in the country, some more successful than others. So far, attempts to damage infrastructure have not really succeeded, and the main impact has been on medium-sized organizations and below.

"Although there has not yet been physical damage, the Iranians have managed to break into the systems of organizations of great importance, including medical institutions and academic institutions. They have managed to get their hands on a lot of information, which, although not strategic, is enough to cause economic damage to the economy.

"Let's be clear: while these recent attacks may appear to be of Palestinian origin, they're actually being executed by Iranian operatives with Russian strategic guidance."

How has Russian support strengthened the Iranian cyber array?

"Let's start with the fact that even before Tehran strengthened its strategic connection with Moscow, Iranian technology and research capabilities were considered relatively high, with the University of Tehran ranked among the top 500 universities in the world according to the Shanghai Index. Alongside these capabilities, the development in cyber in the last two years is a direct result of the strategic connection with Russia.

"In exchange for Tehran's unprecedented export of drones and weapons to Moscow, the Russians are enhancing and supporting Iranian cyber capabilities. This connection has developed the Iranian cyber array and led to its construction as an important and central factor in the campaign against Israel.

"The Russians, for their part, have long understood how critical psychological warfare and extensive use of fake news is in undermining enemy resilience, and the Iranians have adopted these tactics. Quite a few attacks make use of fake news and attempts to polarize Israeli public discourse."

How prepared are we for the next attack?

"The war has led the Israeli cyber industry to a boom it hasn't experienced for a long time, due to constant friction with attackers and the incorporation of Israeli creativity. The proof of this is the almost bi-weekly number of exits of Israeli cyber companies.

"However, the rapid advancement of Iranian cyber capabilities necessitates a shift in how we approach cybersecurity across our entire economy. A structured strategy, and consistent and clear guidelines through all bodies and factors in the Israeli economy, are critical to the continuous functioning of the State of Israel. Awareness of the threat, along with proper emergency preparedness that will allow rapid recovery from cyber attacks, is what will make the chances of Iranians significantly harming Israeli society lower."

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One of the recurring questions that pops into our minds from time to time, and we're sure it does for you too, is "What would we do without Google?" The world's largest and most important search engine, with an average of 100 billion monthly searches, serves us for everything – from solving everyday problems to finding definitions for complex words.

But have you ever stopped to think about the phrases you should avoid searching on Google? A viral Reddit thread revealed a list of terms leading to disturbing results, most of which are related to strange medical conditions.

A word of caution – while curiosity is an important human trait, it's essential to be aware of the risks associated with certain internet searches. The terms you'll read below lead to disturbing images that may cause discomfort and trigger unpleasant reactions.

Larvae

Larvae are quite harmless creatures and a stage in the development of many insects, but this term also refers to a disturbing medical condition called myiasis, a rare but dangerous infection that occurs mainly in animals but can, in rare cases, happen in humans.

This infection occurs when flies lay eggs in open wounds. The hatching larvae feed on living tissues, which can cause significant damage. Symptoms include a feeling of itching or movement in the mouth, pain, fever, and in severe cases, breathing difficulties.

Degloving

Degloving is a severe traumatic injury where the skin and soft tissues are torn from the underlying muscles and bones. These injuries are more common in industrial accidents or road accidents and are classified according to their severity and location on the body.

Krokodil

No, this isn't a foreign word for crocodile. Krokodil, scientifically known as "desomorphine," is a synthetic opioid drug that has earned the chilling nickname "zombie drug." This drug is produced in home conditions from a variety of dangerous chemicals such as gasoline and hydrochloric acid.

Its use causes tissue necrosis around the injection site, leading to a crocodile-like skin appearance – hence its name. Addiction to Krokodil can be strong, and the damage to the body is rapid and irreversible. The average life expectancy of regular users is only about two years from the start of use.

Fournier

Fournier's gangrene is caused by a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection affecting the genital area. The disease develops rapidly and can cause extensive tissue destruction within hours. Risk factors that may lead to infection include diabetes, alcoholism, and a weakened immune system.

Treatment requires immediate surgical intervention to remove infected tissues, aggressive antibiotic treatment, and sometimes even hyperbaric chamber therapy. Despite prompt treatment, the mortality rate remains high, ranging between 20 to 30 percent.

Harlequin ichthyosis

Harlequin ichthyosis is a rare and severe genetic skin disease that appears at birth and affects the baby's skin development. Babies born with this condition are covered in thick, rigid layers of skin, with deep cracks between them.

The thick skin limits movement and makes breathing, eating, and hearing difficult. In the past, most babies with this condition did not survive beyond the first few days. Today, with intensive treatment including maintaining skin moisture, preventing infections, and retinoid medications, some patients reach adulthood. However, they need intensive daily care for life.

The post Five terms to avoid Googling at all costs appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Less than a week ago, Israel and the world were stunned by the heroic IDF operation leading to the rescue of the four hostages Andrey Kozlov, 27, Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 held at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas terror group.

In a candid interview with Israel Hayom, Kozlov's parents – Michael and Yevgenia – recalled the emotional reunion with their son, who was abducted at the Nova music festival, where he worked as a security guard, and spoke about his lengthy ordeal in captivity, and the dramatic moment he realized rescue was underway.

Q: What was it like seeing Andrey for the first time upon his rescue?

Yevgenia: "Our initial conversation with Andrey was via video as we had not yet returned to Israel. Alongside immense joy, difficult to articulate, we felt trepidation about what, or rather who, we would encounter.

"We were convinced that after eight months in captivity, subjected to unimaginable horrors and trauma, we would fail to recognize him. I was terribly apprehensive about the state my son would be in after that prolonged period. Before he appeared on screen, I covered my mouth in sheer fear, blankly staring at the monitor."

"Then, abruptly, I saw him – Andrey. His eyes were wide open as he exclaimed, 'Mom, I survived twice. Mom, I'm fine, everything's okay, don't worry.' He likely feared our distress, aiming firstly to reassure us," she recounted with a smile.

"He continued, 'Mom, I knew I'd return, and now all will be well. Daily I thought of you, conversed with you in my mind, confident I'd rejoin you. Mom, don't worry, just don't.' Though attempting to comfort me, I witnessed the gamut of emotions overwhelming him at that moment, the entire ordeal etched on his face. It was profoundly moving.

"I strived to smile and remain calm for his benefit, to ease his burden. And indeed, after a few minutes, I began to perceive my son as he once was, he even started cracking jokes! His sole wish was to continue conversing with us, which we reciprocated."

Q: Did he tell you about his time in captivity?

Michael: "To recount his entire eight-month experience would require far more than a single interview. He recounted his ordeal at length, yet seemingly striving not to overwhelm us excessively, he endeavored to keep matters light with humor and optimism, even when describing terrifying, unimaginable adversity.

"For instance, he revealed that for the initial two months, his captors restrained him with hands tied behind his back, depicting how he contorted himself merely to eat. With mordant humor, he told us how fortunate he was to be so flexible, as it enabled him to eat with his hands rather than like an animal.

"He laughed at his luck when the terrorists eventually tied his hands in the front, and that his conditions were relatively decent as they occasionally permitted bathroom use, unlike other hostages, who were provided only with buckets in their rooms. These accounts are utterly deranged, yet he strove to recount them lightheartedly to ease our burden."

Yevgenia added, "He described the psychological torment his captors inflicted on him and fellow hostages. Comments like 'your girlfriend has surely moved on, your parents know nothing of you, and Israel has forgotten you they won't save you. The army actually wants you dead.

"Andrey revealed this was among the terrorists' key aims – constantly attempting to convince them Israel did not truly care, that no rescue was coming, that contrarily, the nation preferred them dead to resolve this hostages issue.'"

"Yet throughout, Andrey and his fellow hostages strove to bolster and assist one another. They conversed constantly, preventing one another from descending into despair's depths. Initially, it was immensely challenging for him as his Hebrew and English were poor, and the terrorists prohibited Hebrew.

"On one hand, I heard my son recount these events like a story, with optimism and humor, yet internally I grasped the enormity of the atrocity, tragedy, and unimaginable ordeals he endured over those long months, leaving indelible scars on him and us."

"As a mother, hearing your son say 'there are things I can never tell you' is heart-shattering, truly comprehending this entire event's profound gravity."

Q: What was the moment the IDF arrived to rescue Andrey like?

Michael: "Truthfully, even before he shared the details with us, we gathered in his hospital room to view the footage captured by the soldiers' bodycams. Until then, he had only seen videos uploaded by Gazan bloggers from a completely divergent perspective."

"The moment he witnessed the published footage, his emotions overwhelmed him uncontrollably. Covering his mouth, he exclaimed 'Yes, yes, that's me. That's really how it was, what I endured.' It was as if he relived it, truly processing his ordeal."

Yevgenia said, "Andrey revealed that realizing rescue was imminent, recognizing the fighters who came to extract him, he was utterly flooded with relief and calm. He said his sole desire was to embrace the rescuers, unwilling to relinquish that grasp. To him, they appeared not merely heroes, but truly superhuman.

"He still faces a lengthy road ahead, yet his optimism and fortitude fill us with immense pride. Not only did he avoid breaking under captivity despite the terrorists' efforts, he emerged stronger and more resilient."

The post Freed hostage Andrey Kozlov spent first few months with hands tied, parents say appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Wikipedia editors have decided to declare one of the leading human rights organizations in the United States, the Anti-Defamation League, as an "unreliable source" whose data cannot be relied upon when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a report published overnight between Wednesday and Thursday revealed.

The Jewish organization is one of the most prominent and well-known in terms of protecting and supporting the rights of Jewish citizens in particular and minorities in general in the US, and it constantly fights to ensure the security of American Jews and to stop the rising antisemitism in the country.

Wikipedia editors' decision to categorize the Anti-Defamation League as "a source that is generally unreliable" means that from now on, it will not be possible to quote data or statements from the ADL in articles posted on Wikipedia, except in exceptional cases. Thus, the organization joins a list alongside state-owned media outlets in Russia, Fox's political coverage, and Amazon reviews, all defined as "unreliable sources" on Wikipedia.

In another absurd move, Wikipedia editors are now facing a vote regarding labeling the Anti-Defamation League as an unreliable source on the subject of antisemitism. If the decision is ultimately made, it could severely damage the credibility of the ADL as the world's leading organization for researching antisemitism.

In an online forum held on the topic, Wikipedia editors defended the decision, arguing that the dual role played by the ADL – on the one hand as a research body and on the other as an organization engaging in pro-Israel advocacy – prevents it from providing unbiased reports on Israel and antisemitism.

"The organization is very biased toward Israel, to the point that it often acts as a pro-Israel lobbying organization," one editor known under the name "Loki," who has edited over 3,000 articles on Wikipedia, wrote. "This impairs its ability to accurately report facts about people and organizations that disagree with it on this issue, especially non-Zionist or anti-Zionist Jews," according to him.

Despite these statements, the few editors who opposed the decision argued that they were not provided with any proof or reliable evidence that the Anti-Defamation League made false claims as a result of its advocacy work for Israel or that the data it provided was unreliable and/or inaccurate.

ADL strongly denounced the decision. In a written statement, the group said the decision was the result of a "campaign to delegitimize the ADL" and that editors opposing the ban "provided point-by-point refutations, grounded in factual citations, to every claim made, but apparently, facts no longer matter."

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After reports emerged this morning (Tuesday) of a widespread outage preventing users from accessing the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence system, it appears the service has now been partially restored but is still unavailable for some users. 

Numerous users took to social media to report that the chatbot was not processing their queries, with the ability to type questions into the dialogue box, but the Enter key failed to respond. Additionally, access to previous conversations was unavailable on the website at that time.

ChatGPT is a popular AI assistant utilized by workers worldwide to increase productivity by handling routine tasks, as well as by students and job seekers to help draft application materials like cover letters and resumes. The outage's impact was so prominent that one social media user sarcastically wrote on X, "ChatGPT is down. How am I supposed to get any work done? What if it never comes back and we have to start using our brains again?"

Reports of issues with the chatbot began surfacing in the early morning hours, with data from the outage-monitoring site Downdetector indicating that over 80 percent of users were experiencing difficulties accessing ChatGPT, approximately 14 percent were unable to access the site at all, and around 12 percent were experiencing issues with the application. OpenAI, the company behind the technology, stated that the matter was under investigation, and the cause of the outage remains unclear at this time.

The post Mysterious glitch – ChatGPT widespread outage partially resolved, still impacting users after hours appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.