On Monday, Hamas declared the disbandment of the emergency committee managing Gaza’s civilian governance. This step could pave the way for a new administration backed by the U.S. to assume responsibility for civilian affairs.

The intended body, called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), is intended to oversee civilian governance in Gaza following the conclusion of the war, with backing from the United States.

Hamas, labeled by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist entity, has controlled Gaza since it took over the area in 2007. It was responsible for the assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the outbreak of war. In the aftermath, Israel has remained firm in its stance that Hamas should have no role in governing or military operations in post-conflict Gaza.

This development might become a crucial test for President Donald Trump’s outlined strategy for Gaza and his broader diplomatic efforts in the region. A smooth transition could facilitate the creation of a post-war administrative body. However, critics from Israel and beyond argue that Hamas is keen to shed the burden of civilian governance but is not prepared to relinquish its military power or on-the-ground influence.

The Trump-led Board of Peace responded cautiously, saying its assessment would be “guided by actions, not promises.” The technocratic committee, which is currently based outside Gaza, has said it is prepared to begin operating once conditions allow.

But the announcement did not include a commitment by Hamas to disarm, the central demand from Israel and a core element of Trump’s post-war framework.

Alaa Abo Naddi, a Gazan teacher and political activist, said that the committee Hamas is dissolving was never the source of its real authority.

“I believe this is simply an attempt by Hamas to buy time,” Abo Naddi said. “The real question has always been whether Hamas is willing to give up its weapons and dismantle the armed groups and militias under its control.” 

He said Gaza’s civilian officials have long operated without independent authority and remain subordinate to Hamas’ security apparatus.

“In reality, even a low-ranking Hamas security officer can overrule them or have them arrested,” he said. “As long as Hamas retains its arms, this looks like an attempt to preserve its control and gain more time.”

Hadeel Oueis, editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab media outlet Jusoor News, similarly described the announcement as a “performative step” likely encouraged by one of Hamas’ regional backers.

Oueis said the move appeared intended to send Trump a message that Hamas had fulfilled its obligations and that Israel was now responsible for blocking the next phase of his plan.

“This is just a show and doesn’t change anything on the ground in reality,” Oueis told News Media. 

She noted that technical employees are expected to remain in place during the transition, arguing that Hamas would therefore remain the de facto authority unless its security and military structures were removed.

Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center, also characterized the dissolution as largely symbolic but said its timing could signal a broader diplomatic effort.

Milshtein said Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have been working with Hamas to develop a compromise that could move the stalled post-war arrangement forward, particularly on the issue of disarmament.

Rather than demanding the immediate and complete surrender of Hamas’ weapons, he said the mediators may be pushing for a gradual and partial process that Hamas could accept.

“I assess that the step Hamas took today is part of a move coordinated with Turkey, Qatar and Egypt, intended to begin advancing the broader arrangement,” Milshtein told News Media.

He said Hamas had effectively thrown the ball into Israel’s court and could now argue that it had agreed to relinquish formal government control.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected that distinction Tuesday, accusing Hamas of trying to reproduce the model used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, where an armed organization maintains military dominance while civilian institutions handle government services.

“They don’t care if others collect the garbage, provide municipal services and administer civilian affairs, if Hamas will remain the dominant military force,” Sa’ar said during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Sa’ar said Israel would continue to insist on the “disarmament of Hamas and all other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and its full demilitarization.”

Wadephul backed that position, saying Hamas must relinquish both its weapons and its de facto control of Gaza.

The United Nations also offered a cautiously positive response.

U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization had taken note of Hamas’ announcement concerning the dissolution of the Government Emergency Committee and the proposed transfer of administrative responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

“We welcome any step that contributes to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and advances the objectives reflected in relevant Security Council resolutions, including the full implementation of the ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid,” Dujarric said.

He added that the U.N. continued to support “efforts toward unified Palestinian governance under the Palestinian Authority.”

Milshtein said the real test would be whether the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is allowed to enter Gaza, operate independently and exercise genuine authority, while Hamas gives up not only its civilian role but also its security and military control.

Imagine setting off for a restful beach retreat, only to find yourself in a fight for survival. This was the chilling reality for a woman from Southern California who narrowly escaped a terrifying carjacking attempt in Mexico. Her supposed peaceful vacation with her cherished dog, Ellie, took a life-threatening turn.

Cassandra Light, a San Diego life coach, bravely recounted the traumatic incident that took place in Tijuana just about a month ago. Having enjoyed her time in Rosarito, she was on her way back home when the horror unfolded.

In a sudden and violent encounter, Light found herself at the mercy of an armed carjacker. The would-be thief fired multiple shots at her vehicle while her delightful golden retriever remained inside, witnessing the ordeal in terror.

Sharing more about the traumatic incident, a GoFundMe campaign set up for Light revealed that, “One bullet entered through my driver’s side window, traveled through my car, and exited through the passenger door.”

Tragically, another bullet struck Cassandra, inflicting significant injury. “A second bullet went through my lower leg, shattering both my tibia and fibula before exiting the other side hitting my ankle,” she detailed in her recount of the frightening encounter.

“I was then thrown from my vehicle out into the street… I was losing blood so fast.”

Light said it was adrenaline which kept her from truly feeling the pain rushing through her body when she looked up to see her sweet pup’s face still in the backseat of the car.

“When I tried to run to her I collapsed realizing all the bones in my leg had been completely broken by the gunshot and I had no ability to walk,” the life coach wrote. 

“Thankfully, I kept yelling her name and she jumped out of the window and ran to me.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Light said two women she didn’t even know rushed to her aid and one helped tie a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, until emergency personnel arrived. 

She was eventually transported from a Tijuana emergency room, to a hospital in San Diego. 

Since that time, she’s undergone multiple surgeries in an effort to repair the damage, having to get a “metal plate, a rod and multiple screws” in her leg.

Her road to recovery is going to be long, with months of physical therapy and more in order to learn to walk again.

“Losing the ability to do the work I love has been one of the hardest parts of this,” Light said, noting that all the time she was helping others get over barriers in their lives, she never imagined she would need others to help her get over hers.

She said her one bright spot through the ordeal has been her nearly 2-year-old dog, who never left her side — riding with her in the ambulance, waiting faithfully as she underwent emergency surgeries and helping her through the darkest moments of her recovery.

“The EMTs, nurses, and hospital staff continually commented on her calm, gentle presence,” Light wrote.

“They encouraged me to have her trained and certified as a therapy dog so that, once I’m healthy again, we can give back, bringing comfort to people experiencing trauma, hospitalization, and some of life’s most difficult moments, just as so many people brought comfort to us.”

Light said the financial impact of what has happened has been “overwhelming,” citing medical bills, inability to work, legal fees, rehab and recovery, and more.

The California Post reached out to San Diego officials for further information.

HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) — In a tragic incident, Keshawn Lewis-Hunt, once a promising football player hailing from Morgan Park High School and Eastern Illinois University, was shot and killed during a birthday gathering at his grandmother’s home in Harvey. The untimely event unfolded on Monday, as confirmed by local police and his grieving family.

According to authorities, the 20-year-old Lewis-Hunt sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the midst of a house party held on 160th Street and Ashland Avenue. The shooting reportedly occurred shortly after 1:15 a.m., shattering the peace of the night.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The investigation revealed that a heated dispute erupted between two women at the celebration. In a gallant attempt to defuse the situation, Lewis-Hunt stepped in to mediate the altercation, a decision that tragically led to him being shot.

“As you was trying to break it up, break up a girl fight, you wind up getting shot,” his brother, Konya Hunt, recounted with palpable anguish.

The loss has left a profound void among Lewis-Hunt’s family, friends, and the wider community, including former coaches who witnessed his growth as both an accomplished athlete and a remarkable young man.

Nathan Irons, Lewis-Hunt’s former youth football coach, said he began coaching him when he was 7 years old.

“To watch somebody grow up, and they get taken away from you – that’s the worst feeling I got right now,” Irons said.

Irons described Lewis-Hunt as someone who routinely sought to calm conflicts rather than create them.

“Key went out being who he was; always trying to de-escalate a situation. He didn’t care for the drama,” Irons said.

Lewis-Hunt later died at a hospital. His death ended aspirations of playing professional football, leaving loved ones mourning the loss of a young man they said had a promising future.

“Right now, I don’t even know because I’m not supposed to have last words for him,” Irons said as he cried.

Police said two other men were injured in the shooting. Family members said one of the injured men was Lewis-Hunt’s cousin, whose birthday was being celebrated.

No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Despite the looming threat of a life sentence, former Lions player Terrion Arnold is reportedly still attracting interest from NFL teams. This development comes from a surprising new report.

Arnold, aged 23, was let go by the Detroit Lions on June 29. This followed allegations that he was involved in orchestrating a kidnapping and armed robbery, charges that could see him receiving a life sentence.

However, the questions surrounding his legal situation haven’t scared off all NFL teams. According to his agent, Harvey Steinberg, three teams have already expressed interest in Arnold.

A recent report by ESPN indicates that Arnold is poised to visit ‘several teams’ that have shown interest in him. This comes after he received judicial approval to pursue his NFL career further.

Earlier this week, Arnold successfully cleared waivers after posting a $1 million bond. He is currently under house arrest at his Tallahassee, Florida home, allowed to leave only for training, playing, or traveling with an NFL team. Furthermore, he has surrendered his passport as part of his bail conditions.

It has not been specified which teams he will visit, or which teams have privately expressed an interest in him, but it raises the possibility of him returning to the field in the 2026 season. 

In a court appearance last week, prosecutors had requested Arnold be fitted with an ankle monitor, however his attorneys argued he would be unable to play football with this device on – something the judge sided with.

The Lions took Arnold in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, held in Detroit. He has now become the first player selected in the first round from that year’s draft to be released by his team.

Arnold played 24 games, with 22 starts, in his two years with the Lions. He managed one interception, against the Minnesota Vikings in November 2025, and defended 18 passes.

He has been accused of leading a plot to detain and pistol-whip three people he believed had stolen from him.

However, investigators claim those victims had nothing to do with the theft – which occurred in February.

Over $250,000 worth of personal property belonging to Arnold and others was reported stolen from an AirBnB rental about 20 miles west of Tampa on February 1.

Three days later, three men in their late teens were held at gunpoint, battered, pistol-whipped and robbed at a Tampa apartment.

Authorities claim that Arnold was the ‘primary conspirator’ in the attack. Arnold has denied his involvement, according to the player’s management agency.

At least seven people face charges, including two who pleaded guilty last month and are cooperating, the state attorney’s office said. One was immediately sentenced to four years in prison for kidnapping, conspiracy and robbery with a gun, records show.

Arnold was initially denied bail in a pre-trial motion from prosecutors. That motion, reviewed by the Daily Mail, shed light on further details which hadn’t been revealed when the cornerback initially turned himself in.

Within the motion, Arnold is accused of instructing co-defendant Jasmine Randazzo to lure the three victims to her Tampa apartment, where roommate and co-defendant Arianna Del Valle was waiting as fellow co-defendants Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson hid inside the residence.

Del Valle greeted two of the victims at the door. After one asked where Randazzo was and began searching for her, Williams and Hudson emerged from a bedroom closet carrying firearms, according to the motion. Hudson pointed an AR-15-style rifle at one victim and began striking him while Williams did the same to the other victim with a semiautomatic firearm.

The third victim later arrived at the apartment door out of concern for his friends’ whereabouts, according to prosecutors, who claim he suffered a similar fate. 

Prosecutors say the assaults were captured on a video livestream and shared by Del Valle with Arnold and co-defendants Freddie Hughes and Boakai Hilton as they drove towards the Tampa apartment from Tallahassee.

Meanwhile, the co-defendants allegedly engaged in a text message chat, where Arnold and Hilton are accused of giving instructions to Del Valle, Williams, and Hudson on the beatings. Additionally, Hudson, Williams and Hughes allegedly stole wallets, phones, jackets, cash, and jewelry belonging to the three victims.

After Arnold, Hilton, Hughes, and Ridgeway parked outside, the armed assailants allegedly escorted the victims outside, where they were forced into their vehicles and fled, according to prosecutors.

The victims promptly filed a report with Tampa police and a search warrant was served on Del Valle and Randazzo’s apartment, leading to Del Valle’s arrest. She has since admitted to her involvement in the scheme, as has Randazzo, who received a four-year prison sentence this week. Del Valle has yet to be sentenced in the case.

Both Randazzo and Del Valle each positively identified Arnold as the defendant, according to the motion.

A French appeals court has upheld the embezzlement conviction of Marine Le Pen, a prominent conservative and former presidential candidate, though it has reduced her sentence. While she is now permitted to run for the presidency in 2027, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor for a year.

The Paris Criminal Court initially convicted Le Pen in 2025. She, along with other members of the National Rally party, was accused of misusing millions of euros in European Union funds by channeling the money to aides working on French domestic political activities. Le Pen has consistently denied any criminal conduct.

Originally, Le Pen’s sentence included five years of prison time, with two years suspended and three years of house arrest. According to the French judicial system, the suspended sentence served as a warning, while the house arrest was expected to be enforced. The initial ruling also imposed a five-year ban prohibiting her from contesting in future elections, effectively disqualifying her from the 2027 presidential race.

However, on Tuesday, the appeals court altered her sentence to three years in total, with two years suspended. Le Pen is now required to serve the remaining one year under house arrest, as detailed in a statement revealed by News Media.

The ruling also shortened her ban from running for office to 45 months, 30 of which are considered to be suspended. Given that the court considered her suspension active starting from initial sentencing in March 2025, the ruling means Le Pen is eligible to run for office effective immediately.

However, if she were to decide on a presidential run, she would have to do so while serving the house arrest sentence, a prospect she has already cast doubt on.

“If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that wouldn’t be possible,” she told French media Wednesday.

Le Pen, along with 11 other associates, were found guilty of a litany of crimes related to the misuse of public funds. Le Pen herself was found guilty on charges of misappropriating public funds and complicity in the misappropriation of public funds.

“The court found that an organization had been set up to allow the European Parliament to cover the remuneration of parliamentary assistants for National Front (which became Rassemblement National) MEPs, whereas their activities had no connection with the mandate of their MEP and they were actually working for the national political party,” a press release from the Paris Court of Appeals read.

The release claimed the defendants misappropriated €2.8 million, which the court ordered them to pay back in restitution.

Le Pen, for her part, admitted that some staff paid as EU staffers were relegated to domestic French work, but she claimed it was simply a mistake and not, as alleged, part of a scheme to divert E.U. funds to her National Rally party.

Le Pen, according to The Associated Press, immediately went from the courthouse to National Rally headquarters to strategize the party’s future plans. She is expected to address the country in a news conference or interview Tuesday night.

Her legal team at the courthouse said, “We ⁠are considering the decision as a whole. We will issue a further statement. We are partially satisfied,” according to Reuters.

News Media contacted representatives for National Rally and the Paris appeals court for further comment.

The 250th anniversary of the United States sparked an extraordinary celebration, marked by both a nationwide surge of patriotism and a majestic procession of tall ships navigating through the waters of New York Harbor.

From coast to coast, revelries were amplified by the simultaneous and extraordinary World Cup excitement, with countless international visitors passionately supporting their home teams.

However, the aftermath left a considerable hangover.

Our hopes for soccer success dwindled as the national team faltered in competition, while the shift back to regular political discourse marked a stark contrast to the euphoric atmosphere of the extended holiday weekend.

Yet, before the joyous celebrations fade from memory, it’s important to reflect on the exuberant displays of national pride and recognize what they reveal about our country’s distinctive role and impact on the world.

The vast majority of Americans, to the chagrin of the political left and their media handmaidens, do indeed love their country.

They are deeply proud, and not at all ashamed, of how we got to the top of the heap and how we stay there.

A personal favorite involved the parade of tall ships and the expressions of genuine affection they conveyed from long-term allies on our special birthday.

Watching the harbor events on NBC News, my guard was up for any hints of the legacy media’s habit of lapsing into anti-Americanism.

Journos play it straight

Happily, I detected none and was grateful that the network’s anchors and reporters appeared to be sharing in the joy of the hot but glorious day.

They were fully engaged in what American independence has meant at home and around the world for 250 years — and what it continues to mean, even in these tense and difficult times.

As embodied by our founding documents and their championing of individual rights and limits on government power, the resulting national greatness has been and remains an inspirational example for people around the world.

One obvious aspect of that shining city on the hill is how our extraordinary military might has been used to spread the blessings of freedom and remove the shackles of oppression around the globe.

We also see it in our remarkable standard of living that is propelled by private enterprise, which, when combined with restrained government power, has turned an 18th century event into a living, aspirational example for billions of people.

The celebrations were thus a pleasant diversion from the strained relations America is ­experiencing with some of those same nations, mostly over the war in Iran.

Additionally, the domestic partisan animosity that is directed at President Trump on a daily basis also took a holiday respite.

Days that were jammed with over-the-top patriotic activities highlighted the fact that he was the right president for this special moment.

His unabashed American boosterism is genuine, as is his vision for a grand future, ­although they can get diluted when he digresses into personal boasting.

But he acted entirely appropriately during the weekend’s numerous events, including his stirring speech at Mount Rushmore.

Predictably, a sour note came from the Associated Press account of the event, which accused him of switching from “soaring rhetoric about American exceptionalism” to “a darkly political speech with warnings about a sinister threat of communism that evoked one of the country’s ugliest chapters.”

Snark from the AP

His sin, to the AP, was to say “communism is a mortal threat to American liberty,” and “the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11.”

The outlet felt compelled to allege that his language “evoked the Red Scare of the 1950s, when alleged communists were persecuted and blacklisted from jobs across America, from Washington to Hollywood.”

The AP also revealed its disdain for all things Trump by saying his remarks fell short of Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, two previous Republican presidents who gave important speeches at the iconic spot.

The snarky coverage ended the reverie and heralded a fresh outbreak of Trump Derangement Syndrome. And this time it wasn’t limited to blue state Dems and their rabid media megaphones.

This time, TDS went fully global.

And it’s still spreading.

It was probably only a matter of time given America’s rattled relations with much of Europe.

But it was impossible to predict that the spark would be a World Cup ruling that suspended one of America’s top players from the crucial soccer match Monday.

Trump, who was instrumental in his first term in making the deal for America to be the major host of the world tournament, did what any American president should have done, but most probably would not have.

In fact, he was far from alone in seeing the ban against star striker Folarin Balogun as excessive, especially considering precedents and the circumstances.

As the president described his phone call to the head of the soccer governing body, he told reporters that he merely asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for “a review,” because Trump found it excessive to ban a player from participating in the next game.

“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet?” he said.

“It’s very unfair. You can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.”

Independent decision

Infantino said after the decision was made that Trump’s call did not affect the lifting of the penalty.

The leftist media wasn’t buying any of it, and showed their stripes with claims such as this one in The Athletic, owned by The New York Times: “A United States defeat against Belgium was probably the political outcome” Infantino wanted.

There they go, mind-reading again.

Most Democrats had the good sense to remain silent, lest they confirm the growing suspicion that they hate Trump more than they love America.

An exception was California US Rep. Sam Liccardo, who objected to Trump even raising the issue with FIFA.

He wrote on social media that “we can’t win this way,” and “I won’t cheer FIFA’s capitulation to power.”

After the ruling, he told Politico “this outcome after this corruption summit between FIFA and Donald Trump accentuates the distaste for many.”

Tellingly, his message echoed the tone of the victors.

Following the 4-1 thrashing of the American squad, Belgium’s team used its X account to send a triumphant message that read, simply, “Overturn this.”

To the victor goes the spoils, and the Belgium players made the point on the field after the game, with a celebration that featured them imitating Trump’s iconic dance in front of their joyous fans.

Dreams of an American soccer championship have been dashed, but more important is that the sights, sounds and joy of the 250th celebration were genuine.

May they spur America’s resolve to continue the fight for the independence of the human spirit for the next 250 years.

A renowned American steakhouse chain is grappling with its future, now reduced to only four branches nationwide.

Claim Jumper, known for its generous servings, the gigantic chocolate motherlode cake, and decor reminiscent of the gold rush era, has seen its once-extensive chain winnow down to a few restaurants after many years of closures.

The latest setback occurred recently as the chain discreetly closed its San Bernardino, California location, marking it the 41st shutdown since 2010, leaving just four independent Claim Jumper diners operating across the country.

Currently, three of these restaurants are situated in Southern California—specifically in Costa Mesa, Buena Park, and San Diego—accompanied by a single outpost in Tualatin, Oregon.

This significant contraction reflects broader challenges faced by restaurant chains in the U.S., which are contending with escalating labor costs, peak beef prices, persistent inflation, and evolving consumer preferences, leaving many popular casual dining spots fighting to stay afloat.

Founded in 1977 in Los Alamitos, California, Claim Jumper became a household name thanks to its enormous portions, rustic mining-town atmosphere and indulgent comfort food.

At its peak, the chain operated 45 restaurants across eight states, serving everything from prime rib and rotisserie chicken to its legendary Motherlode Cake – a towering chocolate dessert that packed almost 3,500 calories per slice.

In 2005, founder Craig Nickoloff sold the business to a private equity firm in a deal reportedly worth around $250 million.

Just five years later, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following the financial crisis before being acquired by hospitality giant Landry’s Inc., owner of Morton’s Steakhouse, Mastro’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Joe’s Crab Shack and Rainforest Cafe.

Despite the rescue, the closures have continued.

The San Bernardino restaurant, which served diners since 1999, closed its doors in June without explanation, following the closure of locations in Henderson, Nevada, earlier this year and La Mesa and Temecula, California, in 2024.

Landry’s still operates three casino-based restaurants branded simply as CJ inside Golden Nugget casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada, but the original Claim Jumper brand has largely disappeared from America’s dining landscape.

The chain’s collapse mirrors wider problems facing the casual dining sector.

According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, average steak prices climbed to $12.73 per pound in March, roughly 16 percent higher than a year earlier, squeezing restaurant margins and forcing many operators to raise menu prices.

At the same time, consumers have become increasingly selective about eating out, with many opting for cheaper fast-food deals, takeout or delivery instead of traditional sit-down restaurants.

Several major steakhouse brands have announced closures in recent months.

Outback Steakhouse owner Bloomin’ Brands has been trimming underperforming restaurants, while McCormick & Schmick’s recently closed its long-running Pittsburgh location. Quaker Steak & Lube is also shutting its final Florida restaurant after more than two decades.

For many diners, however, Claim Jumper’s decline represents more than another restaurant closure – it’s the end of a childhood tradition.

News that the chain is down to just four locations sparked an emotional response on Reddit, where hundreds of former customers shared memories of birthday celebrations, family dinners and famously enormous portions.

‘God I miss Huell,’ one commenter joked while reminiscing about the restaurant’s famous Motherlode Cake after another user recalled a television segment showing that even the display slices weren’t real.

Others said the chain’s sprawling salad bar was reason enough to visit. ‘They had an epic salad bar,’ one former customer wrote, while another remembered diners helping themselves to whole avocados.

Many said the restaurant’s giant chocolate cake remained unforgettable decades later. ‘All I can remember is that cake,’ one user wrote.

Another recalled how a single slice easily fed an entire family. ‘My parents would order one slice and everyone in our family of six would get a full layer.’