Israeli military recovers two hostages' bodies in southern Gaza
Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of two Israeli Americans taken back to Gaza as hostages during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, the Israeli military says.
Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70, who was also a Canadian citizen, and her husband Gadi Haggai, 72, were murdered by gunmen from the Mujahideen Brigades group when they attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz, a statement said.
Their bodies were recovered from the southern Khan Younis area of Gaza and brought back to Israel for forensic identification.
There are now 56 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
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The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Van Hollen on Abrego Garcia's return to US: ‘A victory for the Constitution'
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) celebrated the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported and detained in El Salvador's CECOT prison, calling it 'a victory' for the rule of law. The Trump administration doubled down on the deportation, accusing Abrego Garcia, who illegally immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in 2011 but was later protected from removal to his home country, of having gang ties. His legal team has denied these allegations and urged for his return to the U.S. On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi, after months of fighting against Abrego Garcia's return in court, announced that he was transported back to U.S. soil to face criminal charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. 'This is a victory for due process. It's a victory for the Constitution. It should not have taken this long. I mean … the Trump administration dragged its feet for a very long time and ignored a 9 to 0 order from the Supreme Court,' Van Hollen said during a Friday appearance on MSNBC. 'But it's important that Abrego Garcia now come home and have his due process rights upheld in a court of law,' he added. The Maryland lawmaker visited Abrego Garcia while he was detained overseas to check on his well being and champion his release from El Salvadoran custody, which White House officials originally said would never happen. Van Hollen on Friday said that the court battle Abrego Garcia will now face should have been launched prior to his removal. 'If they're now going to take this case into the courts, as they should have, you know, from the beginning, before they just took him off the streets of Maryland and deposited him in a gulag in El Salvador, then that is — that is the due process that we've been fighting for,' he said. 'And, again, not just for his case, but for others. And — and I think that Americans understand that everybody deserves to have their rights, you know, respected. That's what the Constitution is for.' Abrego Garcia's attorney said on Friday that the criminal case is just another attempt to persecute his client. 'This shows that they were playing games with the court all along. Due process means the chance to defend yourself before you're punished, not after. This is an abuse of power, not justice,' attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg previously told The Hill in a statement. 'The government should put him on trial, yes—but in front of the same immigration judge who heard his case in 2019, which is the ordinary manner of doing things, 'to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,' as the Supreme Court ordered.'
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
Boulder firebombing suspect charged with hate crime in federal court
Boulder firebombing suspect charged with hate crime in federal court Show Caption Hide Caption Authorities charged alleged Boulder attacker with attempted murder Authorities formally charged Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 118 criminal counts including dozens of attempted murder charges. The suspect in a Boulder, Colorado, attack on a gathering to support Israeli hostages in Gaza made an initial appearance on June 6 in federal court where he was formally charged with a hate crime. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is accused of targeting the group at a pedestrian mall with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower on June 1, according to a criminal complaint. He threw the makeshift firebombs at the Jewish demonstrators while he was shouting "Free Palestine," according to federal court filings detailing the suspected hate crime. Officials said 15 people between the ages of 25 and 88 were injured with burns. A judge ordered Soliman back in court on June 18 for a hearing where prosecutors will begin presenting evidence, according to court filings. Soliman appeared in court with an Arabic translator. Soliman, an Egyptian native who authorities said overstayed a tourist visa to the United States, also appeared in a state courtroom on June 5, where he was charged with another 118 criminal counts, including attempted murder, using explosive devices, attempting to use an incendiary device, assault on someone over the age of 70 and other charges. He's expected back in court for the state charges in July. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the attack was antisemitic. In a federal criminal complaint, authorities said Soliman admitted to investigators that "he wanted to kill all Zionist people" and wanted to stop them from taking over "our land," referring to Palestine. The federal hate crime charge could carry a sentence of up to life in prison if he is convicted. USA TODAY has reached out to Soliman's defense attorney for comment. 'We are better than this': Holocaust survivor burned in Boulder speaks after attack What happened in the Boulder attack? The attack happened the afternoon of June 1 at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder. The group Run for Their Lives was holding a weekly demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants. Soliman, who told investigators he'd been planning the attack for a year, threw two lit Molotov cocktails into the crowd while yelling 'Free Palestine,' the federal criminal complaint said. When he was taken into custody, authorities found an additional 16 Molotov cocktails and a weed sprayer with gasoline. "As a result of these preliminary attacks, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBI's Denver field office, said after the attack. The injured victims had burns that ranged from minor to serious. Three were still hospitalized, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said on June 5. Who is the suspect, Mohamed Soliman? Soliman, who lived in El Paso County, Colorado, has worked as an Uber driver and has five children. He told investigators that he waited for his daughter to graduate from high school before executing his planned attack, the criminal complaint said. Soliman entered the United States in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa that expired over two years ago, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. An affidavit said he was born in Egypt and lived in Kuwait for 17 years before moving to Colorado. McLaughlin said Soliman applied for asylum in September 2022. He tried to purchase a gun but opted to use the incendiary devices instead when he realized he couldn't buy a gun legally because of his citizenship status, according to the court records. He also said he learned how to make the Molotov cocktails online. Soliman told law enforcement he left an iPhone at the house, hidden in a desk drawer, with messages to his family. He also left behind a journal, the criminal complaint said. Family faces possible deportation Soliman's wife and five children were detained by immigration officials after his arrest and faced immediate deportation, Trump administration officials said. A federal judge temporarily blocked them from being deported on June 4. U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher said deporting the family without adequate process could cause "irreparable harm." FBI and police officials said the family has cooperated with investigators, and Soliman said his family had no knowledge of his plans. The visas of his wife and five children have been revoked, multiple media outlets including the New York Times reported. His daughter Habiba Soliman graduated from high school on May 29 and said she hoped to attend medical school. Her father told investigators he waited until after her graduation to carry out the attack.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Supreme Court gives DOGE access to millions of Americans' private Social Security data
The Brief The Supreme Court ruled DOGE can access personal data from the Social Security Administration. The case marks the first Supreme Court decision involving DOGE, once led by Elon Musk. The dissent warned the decision puts Americans' sensitive information at risk. WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday gave the green light for the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access one of the country's most sensitive databases — the Social Security Administration's internal systems — which hold information on nearly every American. The 6–3 decision, split along ideological lines, marks the first major Supreme Court ruling involving DOGE, the controversial agency once led by Elon Musk. The Court's majority reversed a lower court's order that limited DOGE's access under federal privacy law, siding with the administration's argument that the restrictions were hampering its anti-fraud mission. Liberal justices dissented, warning the decision erodes vital privacy protections. The backstory The Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — was established during President Trump's second term and tasked with rooting out government waste and inefficiency. Its first director was Elon Musk, who called the Social Security program a "Ponzi scheme" and repeatedly targeted it as a key source of fraud. Although Musk has since stepped away from DOGE, the department has continued aggressive efforts to audit and investigate various federal programs. Social Security has remained a top priority. The administration argued that unfettered access to the SSA's internal systems was essential to detect abuse, duplication, and improper payouts — particularly in disability and survivor benefits. Dig deeper The case originated in Maryland, where U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander ruled that DOGE's demand for open access to Social Security data amounted to a "fishing expedition" based on limited evidence of wrongdoing. She blocked broad access but allowed DOGE staff with training and security clearance to view anonymized data, and permitted expanded access only if a specific need was documented. The Trump administration appealed, arguing the court was overstepping its role and interfering with executive branch operations. An appeals court upheld the partial block, but the Supreme Court has now lifted it entirely. Solicitor General John Sauer told the Court the restrictions "micromanaged" DOGE's work and undermined its mission. The other side Opponents of the ruling, including the plaintiffs represented by the advocacy group Democracy Forward, argue that the Social Security Administration contains deeply personal data: salary history, school records, family relationships, medical conditions, and more. They warned that handing this information to a politically driven agency without individualized review poses massive privacy risks. Labor unions and retiree groups joined the lawsuit, saying the system could be weaponized against vulnerable Americans. The dissenting justices agreed. "There is no meaningful check here on the breadth or use of the data," one wrote. "We risk turning privacy law into an empty promise." Why you should care This decision expands the Trump administration's ability to conduct sweeping audits across government agencies using personal data. While supporters frame it as a win for accountability and fraud reduction, critics say it weakens safeguards that prevent misuse of federal databases. It also sets a precedent for how much control the courts can — or cannot — exert over federal agency operations, a core issue as Trump's administration continues to consolidate executive power. What's next With the Supreme Court's backing, DOGE is expected to move quickly in analyzing Social Security data. Critics worry this could lead to mass denials of benefits or politically motivated reviews. Supporters say it could lead to cost-saving reforms. The agency, which has faced more than two dozen lawsuits, remains under scrutiny. Legal challenges are ongoing regarding its personnel decisions, data practices, and oversight authority. The Source This report is based on coverage from the Associated Press and court documents related to the Supreme Court decision in the DOGE v. Democracy Forward case. Additional background was gathered from statements by the U.S. Solicitor General, District Court Judge Ellen Hollander's original ruling, and legal filings from the plaintiff groups, including labor unions and the nonprofit Democracy Forward.
