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Meet Charles Gessler: Lyle Menendez’s defence attorney who made sure he stayed off death row in second trial

CHARLES Gassler was a hugely successful defense attorney, who defended Lyle Menendez in his second trial for the murder of his parents. 

He specialized in death penalty litigation and, in his final trial, he succeeded in saving Lyle from the death penalty.

Charles defended Lyle Menendez alongside Leslie Abramson
Getty Images

Watergate and defending a blood-drinking killer

Although not much is known about Charles’ childhood, it is known that he was born on May 26, 1933. 

He graduated from USC Gould School of Law in 1961 and then went on to work as a deputy district attorney in LA county. 

Charles joined the public defender’s office in 1965 and began specializing in death penalty litigation. 

One of his most high profile clients was G. Gordon Liddy, an American lawyer and FBI agent who directed the burglary of the Democratic National Committee in 1972. 

The event, known to the world as Watergate, was one of the biggest moments in American political history. 

G. Gordon Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary and illegal wiretapping in a high-profile court case that captured America’s imagination.

Charles later defended Vaughan Greenwood, who was known as the Skid Row Slasher. 

Vaughan murdered eleven homeless people between 1964 and 1975 and was reported to have drunk the blood of some of the victims. 

In 1977, Vaughan was sentenced to life in prison but was spared the death penalty thanks to Charles’ efforts. 

Charles defended G. Gordon Liddy who was a key figure in the Watergate scandal
AFP
Leslie was said to be fearsome in court
Getty images

The Menendez trial

On August 20, 1989, Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents Kitty and Jose.

The killing was so brutal that the police initially thought the Mob had been involved. 

Eventually, the brothers were arrested after Erik confessed to his therapist, Dr Jerome Oziel, about his crime.

Jerome’s mistress, Judalon Smyth, then told the police about Erik’s confession. 

In court, the brothers alleged that they had been victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their father and that their actions were in self-defense. 

The trial ended in a hung jury, which infuriated their lawyer Leslie Abramson.

Jill Lansing, Lyle’s lawyer in the first trial, stepped back from the case, so Leslie called on Charles to save Lyle from the death penalty. 

At the time, Charles was 62-years-old and had decided that Lyle would be his final client. 

Although the brothers were sentenced to life in prison, Charles was victorious in preventing Lyle from being sentenced to the death penalty.

When asked about Charles’ victory, Leslie said: “I’m so glad, for him, he didn’t go out a loser.”

Then, after more than 30 years of working as a public defender who saw every single one of his clients spared the death penalty, Charles retired. 

Charles was a revered figure in the legal profession
Supplied

Best in the business

When Charles retired, there was a swell of support and praise from lawyers across the legal profession. 

Jill Lansing honored the highly-achieved lawyer by saying that he had an “aura of integrity”. 

She said: “He’s very smart.

“He’s very hard-working–he not only keeps up on the law, he prepares his cases extremely well. 

“He has very sound judgment. 

“And I think he brings with him into the courtroom an aura of integrity. 

“I think jurors know they can trust what he says.

She added: “That is a terrifically powerful ally to have in a courtroom, your credibility.”

After the trial, Charles served as a vestry member, a senior warden, clergy of the vestry and delegate to the Diocesan Convention at St Cross Episcopal Church. 

He was rewarded for his efforts when Bishop J. Jon Bruno named him a canon of the Cathedral Center of St Paul in 2012. 

Sadly, Charles passed away on April 27, 2019, and a funeral service was held in his honor at St Cross Church.

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‘I’m going to kill you if you don’t stop’ – Darts sponsor reveals death threats as Luke Humphries jumps to his defence

A DARTS company has revealed they have been receiving death threats after deciding to sponsor two players.

DartsHub is known for compiling videos of darts-related content and has more than 25,000 followers on Instagram.

a man with a tattoo on his arm wearing a shirt that says ' miami ' on it
Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh is one of two players DartsHub are sponsoring
Getty
a man wearing a blue shirt that says sky sports on it
World champion Luke Humphries has leapt to the defence of the sponsor
Getty

The company recently began sponsoring world No11 Dimitri Van den Bergh and world No37 Callan Rydz.

And they have now taken to social media to confirm the vile threats they have been on the end of in response to their link-up with the pair.

They posted: “This is not something I ever thought I would share, but it’s an important message that needs to be shared.

“Ever since I announced my sponsorship of Dimitri and Callan, I’ve been getting a lot of hate messages. Sometimes that includes death threats.

“I understand that not everyone can be a fan of the players, but messages like ‘I’m going to kill you if you don’t stop this’ really go too far.

“Sponsoring them was one of my dreams and I want to thank them for that opportunity. I have already met them too and they are really friendly people.

“We all have families too, so think twice before sending something like that. Hopefully this message will have a positive impact. In any case, I’m not going to quit.”

World champion Luke Humphries was one of the first people to defend DartsHub as he gave them the encouragement to keep going.

He said: “You keep going pal, you’re a top guy! Lovely meeting you the other month.

“Looking forward to the next time 👍🏻 not many people can say they sponsor two top players 👊🏻.”

Belgian Van den Bergh, 30, was criticised earlier this year for “delaying tactics” against Humphries.

Van den Bergh was booed by the crowd, but Humphries insisted he was not bothered by it.

He said: “I wasn’t angry with him. I’m used to Dimitri being quite a flowy player, quite a good pace to play against. 

“He’s completely different now. He’s probably one of the toughest players to play. He’s incredibly slow and takes a long, long time to take his darts out. It was quite tough to follow the rhythm.

“The crowd were on his back. I tried to stop them from booing and whistling. But the crowd made their mind up.

“I thought when he slowed everything down when he was 10-8 up I thought, it’s not a good thing to do that. The crowd are getting on your back then. I thought I had him for a moment.”

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New $94k Porsche is FREE to drive for two years as added incentive – but there are limits to where you can go

DRIVERS can get two years of free charging if they purchase a brand new Porsche Macan priced at $94,000 – but there are limits to where they can go.

The German brand’s hugely popular junior SUV has gone fully electric – with the entry-level version finally available to buy.

KELLY SERFOSS
Driver can get two years of free charging if they purchase a brand new Porsche Macan priced at $94,000[/caption]
Getty
The German brand’s junior SUV has gone fully electric with the entry-level version finally available to buy[/caption]

The all-electric Macan, which sits below the Cayenne in the luxury marque’s range of vehicles, was released back in January with the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo.

Now, the entry-level Macan has been made available to buy with a starting price of $94,900 – and new owners can charge up their shiny new EV for free thanks to an incredibly generous new offer.

However, it seems that Canadian Porsche buyers will be the only ones to benefit, as Porsche Cars Canada has linked up with Electrify Canada to provide the incredible charging benefits for drivers.

With the brand expanding its network of ultra and hyper-fast charging stations, Macan owners will be handed a whole two years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions.

The offer applies to all electric Macan models sold in Canada, allowing owners to charge their vehicles at public stations across the country for two years from the date of purchase.

The Macan EV’s price starts at $94,900 for the basic model, while its other iterations, the Macan 4 and Macan 4S are priced at $99,300 and $106,900 respectively.

The top-of-the-range Macan Turbo will cost a cool $125,300.

However, these prices include the complimentary charging benefit offered by Electrify Canada.

The EV network is ever-growing, and they claim over 40 new Hyper-Fast chargers are being added nationwide.

They say these new locations will be strategically placed along major highways and key areas – including the likes of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., Trevor Arthur, highlighted that the expanding network will allow owners to enjoy fast charging while exploring Canada’s scenic routes.

He said: “Every Porsche is a sports car at its core and the new Macan Electric is no exception.”

Charging the Macan’s battery is quick and easy, with Porsche claiming the luxury model can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 21 minutes at a 350kW station.

The Mancan’s 800-volt architecture supports a DC charging capacity of up to 270 kW, which means it’s great for driving long distances.

Recently, the chief designer of Porsche revealed that he dreams of designing a smaller and more compact version of the brand’s most iconic model – in a nod to its earlier years.

Car design guru Michael Mauer, who’s worked for the likes of Mercedes and Saab before joining Porsche in 2004, is keen for their next-generation 911 to be scaled-down – although he admits this could be a challenge.

Elsewhere, a luxury car brand is set to release a high-performance sporty EV next year to finally rival the Porsche Taycan.

Alamy
The new Porsche Macan comes with two years free charging… but only across Canada[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture desk
Electrify Canada is expanding its network across the vast nation[/caption]

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Hamas leader Sinwar’s autopsy reveals he was killed with ‘long-range gunshot to head’ as body moved to secret location

TERROR chief Yahya Sinwar was likely wiped out by a long-range gunshot to the head, an autopsy has revealed.

Shocking footage shows evil Hamas boss Sinwar pathetically attempt to fight off a drone with a stick in a fittingly inglorious end for the October 7 mastermind.

a man is sitting in a chair in a room with a lot of furniture .
Reuters
Footage released by the IDF claims to show a wounded Yahya Sinwar moments before he was killed in Gaza[/caption]
a living room filled with broken furniture and a couch .
Reuters
The dust-covered figure sits hunched over on a chair in a building damaged by an airstrike[/caption]
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar
a man with a beard wearing a suit looks at the camera
AP
Sinwar was wiped out on Wednesday[/caption] a newspaper article about how sinwar was wiped out

The humiliating defeat on Wednesday came after he was hunted by Israel for almost 400 days after he ordered the slaughter and kidnap of more than 1,200 civilians.

An autopsy findings reveal Sinwar was likely killed by a long-range gunshot wound to the head – executed with sniper-like precision.

His corpse was also riddled with shrapnel fragments after the house he was in was blasted by a tank.

Sinwar’s body has now been transferred to a secret location inside Israel, Hebrew news site Walla reports.

The cowardly terror kingpin is believed to have spent much of his time in Hamas’ sprawling underground network since October 7, trying to avoid elimination.

But yesterday Sinwar, 62, was killed by Israeli troops after they unwittingly stumbled across him.

Drone video released by Israeli forces shows the mini-camera bot sweep into a bombed-out building.

It comes across a dust-covered man with his face wrapped in a bandana – later revealed to be Sinwar.

He can be seen slumped in a dirty armchair with a badly injured hand.

In one of his feeble final acts, he tries to hurl a stick at the drone to fight it off.

Jubilant Israeli troops didn’t realise they had taken out Sinwar until after he was killed.

Today, Hamas’ senior leader Khalil al-Hayya confirmed Sinwar’s death.

He and his terror guards are understood to have been spotted by a patrol of Israeli troops in Tal al-Sultan, an area of Rafah.

They engaged in a gunfight before IDF troops called in strikes from tanks and missiles.

A drone was then deployed by the patrol unit – stumbling across a terrorist hiding inside the building.

Troops then entered the building and killed the masked fighter as he tried to escape – only then to realise it was Sinwar, dubbed Gaza’s bin Laden.

Gruesome images shared online appeared to show his corpse with a huge head and leg wound.

His identity was confirmed last night after Israel ran DNA tests.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and top army officials repeatedly vowed to take out Sinwar after he orchestrated last year’s atrocity on October 7.

Inside the twisted life of Yahya Sinwar

By Nick Parker, Foreign Editor

HIS life was saved twice by Israel – but the monster dubbed “The Hamas Bin Laden” repaid his sworn enemy by masterminding the October 7 horror.

Yahya Sinwar, 61, spent 22 years in an Israeli prison for terrorist murder and kidnap plots and spent every second honing his burning hatred for his captors.

His astonishing rise to the top of the Hamas terror tree came despite being sentenced to four life sentences in 1989 for planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and the murder of four Palestinians he suspected of working with Israel.

The bearded beast’s life was first saved when he was cured of cancer by an operation in a prison.

Then in 2011 he was freed, among 1,026 others, in a prisoner exchange for a single Israeli soldier in a deal that has been damned by his thousands of victims ever since.

Sinwar taught himself Hebrew and became fluent during his multiple stints as a caged man.

He began reading and studying every Israeli newspaper to probe the weak spots in his enemy’s armour.

The terror master’s deep knowledge of what makes Israelis tick led him to realise the power of the hostage-taking tactic now traumatising the strife-torn Jewish nation.

Yet despite his blood lust and bravado, the Hamas commander “cried like a baby” when he learned he had cancer, his jailer Lieutenant Betty Lahat has revealed.

The Hamas terror attack on Israeli soil killed more than 1,000 people and saw some 250 more kidnapped into Gaza – and sparked war.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Thursday: “We fired on the building and went in to search.

“We found him [Sinwar] with a flak jacket and a gun and NIS 40,000.

“He was fleeing from house to house, we identified him as a terrorist, we closed in professionally and eliminated him.”

Hagari said Sinwar was likely moving around in tunnels around southern Gaza for some time before he died.

The terrorist was probably trying “to escape to the north, to safer areas”, when the army closed in, he explained.

Foreign minister Israel Katz dubbed Sinwar’s death a “great military and moral achievement for Israel”.

He also said it could mean fresh hope for hostages still being kept in Gaza and a possible “new reality” in the ravaged Strip.

“The elimination of Sinwar creates an opportunity for the immediate release of the hostages and a potential change that could lead to a new reality in Gaza – without Hamas and without Iranian control,” Katz said.

But it is feared Sinwar’s shadowy brother could be gearing up to take the reins of the terror group – and be worse.

Mohammed Sinwar’s rise to power would bring a new level of threat, according to an Israeli official.

Grisha Yakubovich, a former senior Israeli military official and expert on Palestinian affairs, explained how brother Mohammed Sinwar’s rise to power poses a significant danger.

He told The Sun: “Mohammed Sinwar is just as radical, if not more, than Yahya Sinwar.

“If he takes over the leadership of Hamas, the situation could become significantly worse.”

a brick wall is being demolished by a bulldozer .
Footage showed the bombed-out building in Rafah
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar holding up a child wielding a gun
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar holding up a child wielding a gun

Read More »

Step-by-step operation that killed Yahya Sinwar as he cowered in bombed out building from Israeli commandos & drone

HAMAS terror boss Yahya Sinwar was taken out by a trainee squad of Israeli commanders after being left as the cowering final survivor of a gunfight.

Gaza’s Bin Laden, 62, had his last humiliating moments sat slumped over in an armchair in a bombed-out building in the Strip as he tried to fight off an Israeli drone with a stick.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar holding up a child wielding a gun
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar holding up a child wielding a gun
a man is sitting in a chair in a room with a lot of furniture .
Reuters
Footage released by the IDF claims to show a wounded Yahya Sinwar moments before he was killed in Gaza[/caption]
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar
a man stands at a podium with arabic writing behind him
Rex
Sinwar addressing supporters during a rally marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in 2023[/caption] a newspaper article about how sinwar was wiped out

The October 7 mastermind had a target on his back for over a year as Israel‘s security service – backed by the US – spent more than a year scouring the country for him.

But Sinwar has now been wiped out by a unit of three trainee squad commanders after they unexpectedly stumbled across him, Israeli officials told The New York Times.

The trio was conducting an operation in the Tal El Sultan area of southern Gaza on Wednesday, where they believed to be a hideout for senior Hamas leaders.

They then came upon a small number of Hamas fighters, who were spotted moving between buildings.

The soldiers, supported by drones, engaged in a gunfight, killing three Palestinian terrorists.

But Sinwar – by then still unrecognisable with a scarf over his face – managed to escape into a ruined building.

Israeli fire during the conflict partially collapsed a building where the militants had sought shelter, officials told the American paper.

After the dust settled and they started looking through the building, the Israeli forces saw that one of the dead remarkably resembled the Hamas terror leader.

He was discovered by the troops armed with a flak jacket, 40,000 shekels ($10,731.63), and a firearm.

“He tried to escape and our forces eliminated him,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said during a televised briefing.

a brick wall is being demolished by a bulldozer .
Footage showed the bombed-out building in Rafah
a room with a sign that says yahya sinwar
The IDF circled Sinwar in the footage taken moments before he died
a man in a helmet with the letter j on it
Rex
Israel’s military chief Herzi Halevi (C) makes an inspection near the site where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in the Gaza Strip[/caption]

Sinwar and several of his bodyguards are said to have recently left from a neighbouring tunnel and were attempting to gather supplies for an extended stay when they were discovered by Israeli soldiers.

It felt like an odd place to find him.

Israeli and American security services had long concluded that Sinwar, fearing for his own life, had been tunnelling beneath the surface and surrounding himself with Israeli hostages in order to avoid being killed.

Astonishing drone footage captured the terror leader‘s humiliating final stand before Israeli troops killed him.

And photographs obtained by The New York Times, some of which later appeared online, show the body of a man bearing a strong resemblance to Yahya Sinwar.

The man’s body had several severe wounds, including to the head and leg.

The images revealed several features consistent with Sinwar’s appearance in archival footage, such as distinctive moles near his eyes and crooked teeth.

Hours after the fighting ended, soldiers cautiously approached the bodies, aware that the area was still scattered with explosives, according to the officials.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks about Sinwar's assassination
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks about Sinwar’s assassination
AFP
People hold placards in Jerusalem as they celebrate after the Israeli military confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar[/caption]
Getty
A protester holds a sign during a demonstration calling for an hostages deal in Tel Aviv on Thursday[/caption]

They also suspected that the body later identified as Sinwar might be booby-trapped.

One official, who shared photos from the scene, said the soldiers found money and weapons alongside the Hamas terrorists.

Some of the images showed these items on display.

The troops were also concerned about the possibility of hostages being in the area, but none were found among the fighters, according to one official.

The Israeli military said there was no evidence that any hostages still held in Gaza were harmed during the battle.

On Thursday evening, after completing the identification process, the Israeli military confirmed Sinwar’s long-awaited death.

The Pentagon said American forces had no role in the killing.

Spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said: “This was an Israeli operation. There (were) no US forces directly involved”.

He said the US had contributed intelligence relating “to hostage recovery and the tracking and locating of Hamas leaders who have been responsible for holding hostages. And so certainly that contributes in general to the picture.”

Inside the twisted life of Yahya Sinwar

By Nick Parker, Foreign Editor

HIS life was saved twice by Israel – but the monster dubbed “The Hamas Bin Laden” repaid his sworn enemy by masterminding the October 7 horror.

Yahya Sinwar, 61, spent 22 years in an Israeli prison for terrorist murder and kidnap plots and spent every second honing his burning hatred for his captors.

His astonishing rise to the top of the Hamas terror tree came despite being sentenced to four life sentences in 1989 for planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and the murder of four Palestinians he suspected of working with Israel.

The bearded beast’s life was first saved when he was cured of cancer by an operation in a prison.

Then in 2011 he was freed, among 1,026 others, in a prisoner exchange for a single Israeli soldier in a deal that has been damned by his thousands of victims ever since.

Sinwar taught himself Hebrew and became fluent during his multiple stints as a caged man.

He began reading and studying every Israeli newspaper to probe the weak spots in his enemy’s armour.

The terror master’s deep knowledge of what makes Israelis tick led him to realise the power of the hostage-taking tactic now traumatising the strife-torn Jewish nation.

Yet despite his blood lust and bravado, the Hamas commander “cried like a baby” when he learned he had cancer, his jailer Lieutenant Betty Lahat has revealed.

Read More »

Yahya Sinwar’s shadowy brother Mohammed could take control of Hamas & be even worse than ‘Gaza’s Bin Laden’

YAHYA Sinwar’s shadowy brother could be taking over Hamas’ leadership and bring on a worse terror reign than Gaza’s Bin Laden, an expert has warned.

As Israel swiftly wiped the terror kingpin out on Wednesday, the focus has now shifted to Mohammed Sinwar, a lesser-known but potentially more dangerous figure who could step into his older brother’s shoes.

a man wearing a palestine scarf is speaking into a microphone
AFP
Yahya Sinwar could be replaced by his younger brother after he was killed by Israel on Wednesday[/caption]
a man in a plaid shirt is sitting in the driver 's seat of a car
IDF
If Mohammed Sinwar rises to power, it could mean an even worse terror reign, according to an Israeli official[/caption]
a room with a sign that says yahya sinwar
The IDF circled Sinwar in the footage taken moments before he died
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar
Pictures show Israeli troops gathered around the body believed to be Sinwar

Mohammed Sinwar’s rise to power would bring a new level of threat, according to an Israeli official.

Yahya Sinwar, the evil mastermind behind the October 7 massacre, was seen as a relatively strategic leader compared to his brother, whose radical ideology and brutal methods are well known within the ranks of Hamas.

With his brother’s staunch support, Mohammed Sinwar has become the de facto second-in-command of Hamas’ leadership in Gaza following the deaths of top Hamas military commanders, such as Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa.

Mohammed became a trust confidant of Yahya, being one of the few people who knew where the Hamas boss was hiding during the war.

Because of his family connections, he also had an easy time rising to the top of Hamas without facing any suspicion of treachery from other members of the terror group.

It will not be the end if Yahya Sinwar is taken down — it will actually increase the violence.

Grisha Yakubovichformer senior Israeli military official

Grisha Yakubovich, a former senior Israeli military official and expert on Palestinian affairs, explained how brother Mohammed Sinwar’s rise to power poses a significant danger.

He told The Sun: “Mohammed Sinwar is just as radical, if not more, than Yahya Sinwar.

“If he takes over the leadership of Hamas, the situation could become significantly worse.”

The Sinwar brothers hail from a family deeply entrenched in Hamas leadership, with both Yahya and Mohammed having played crucial roles in the developing the terror group’s military wing.

a newspaper article about how sinwar was wiped out

Mohammed, though operating largely behind the scenes, is said to have earned a reputation for being ruthless and uncompromising.

According to Yakubovich, his leadership style could push the group into even more violent confrontations with Israel.

“He’s in the top of the military wing,” Yakubovich pointed out, referring to Mohammed’s key role in Hamas’ military operations.

“He’s one of the strongest players. If Yahya is killed, Mohammed could rise quickly.”

Unlike Yahya, who has made headlines for his terror activities over the years, 49-year-old Mohammed operates more in the shadows, but his influence is undeniable, the expert said.

Israeli security forces are concerned that Mohammed, known for his ruthlessness, would escalate the conflict even further.

Yakubovich warned: “If Mohammed Sinwar comes to power, I believe it will be very problematic.

“He is much more extreme, even within the ranks of Hamas.”

This sentiment echoes fears that Mohammed, who is described as far less pragmatic than his brother, could resort to even more violent and uncompromising tactics, putting civilians at even greater risk.

Mohammed’s reputation within Hamas is that of a man who exerts total control through fear and violence.

a man stands at a podium with arabic writing behind him
Rex
Sinwar addressing supporters during a rally marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in 2023[/caption]
a group of men are standing in front of a sign that has arabic writing on it
AFP
Yahya Sinwar pictured after leaving an Israeli jail in 2011[/caption]

“His command in Khan Younis is well known,” Yakubovich said.

“He’s very radical. He can create much more violence.

“It will not be the end if Yahya Sinwar is taken down — it will actually increase the violence.”

While both Sinwar brothers share a background of militant resistance against Israel, Mohammed’s potential leadership raises the stakes of the ongoing war.

Yakubovich warned that Mohammed’s ascension could lead Hamas to employ more extreme measures, such as harming hostages or escalating terror attacks.

“He is a dangerous person who could worsen the situation, especially because of his radical views,” the official said.

The possibility of Mohammed Sinwar’s rise presents a troubling dilemma for Israel, as killing Yahya could now mean having an even more extreme figure take over.

a brick wall is being demolished by a bulldozer .
Footage showed the bombed-out building in Rafah where Sinwar was killed

Who is Mohammed Sinwar?

Born in Khan Younis, Mohammed joined Hamas at an early age and took part in terror attacks during the First Intifada.

He was detained for nine months in Israel and then for three years in a jail run by the Palestinian Authority before he managed to escape in 2000.

According to a source from Gaza, the younger Sinwar was influenced ideologically by Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, a co-founder of Hamas.

The first time Mohammed Sinwar’s participation was made public happened in 2005.

It was when Hamas broke with its custom of secrecy and released the identity of seven commanders heading assaults against Israelis and IDF forces in 2005.

Sinwar’s name was one of the seven on the list, as he held the rank of Khan Younis Brigade commander.

Israel allegedly attempted to kill him three times at the time: once with sniper fire, once with two airstrikes on his house, and once with an explosive device hidden in his wall that he discovered.

Coordinating the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit —which ultimately resulted in the prisoner exchange agreement that saw the release of his brother Yahya — was one of Sinwar’s most important operations.

Mohammed Sinwar led the Khan Younis Brigade at the time of the kidnapping and demanded that Shalit’s release be contingent upon his brother Yahya’s freedom.

Yahya would then go on to become the leader of Hamas before his death.

Inside the twisted life of Yahya Sinwar

By Nick Parker, Foreign Editor

HIS life was saved twice by Israel – but the monster dubbed “The Hamas Bin Laden” repaid his sworn enemy by masterminding the October 7 horror.

Yahya Sinwar, 61, spent 22 years in an Israeli prison for terrorist murder and kidnap plots and spent every second honing his burning hatred for his captors.

His astonishing rise to the top of the Hamas terror tree came despite being sentenced to four life sentences in 1989 for planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and the murder of four Palestinians he suspected of working with Israel.

The bearded beast’s life was first saved when he was cured of cancer by an operation in a prison.

Then in 2011 he was freed, among 1,026 others, in a prisoner exchange for a single Israeli soldier in a deal that has been damned by his thousands of victims ever since.

Sinwar taught himself Hebrew and became fluent during his multiple stints as a caged man.

He began reading and studying every Israeli newspaper to probe the weak spots in his enemy’s armour.

The terror master’s deep knowledge of what makes Israelis tick led him to realise the power of the hostage-taking tactic now traumatising the strife-torn Jewish nation.

Yet despite his blood lust and bravado, the Hamas commander “cried like a baby” when he learned he had cancer, his jailer Lieutenant Betty Lahat has revealed.

Read More »

Donald Trump reveals election issue he spends ‘every second’ thinking about & ‘reason’ Harris snubbed Al Smith dinner

DONALD Trump has revealed he spends “every second” thinking about who will be on his team as president and hit out at Kamala Harris for snubbing the Al Smith dinner this week.

The former president was speaking on Fox & Friends on Friday morning.

Fox & Friends
Donald Trump appeared on Fox and Friends on Friday morning[/caption]
AP
On Thursday, Trump spoke at the Alfred E. Smith in New York City[/caption]

Trump attended the Al Smith dinner in New York City on Thursday, a white-tie event that raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities.

A number of senior political figures attended, including Trump with his wife Melania, and RFK Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines.

Notably absent was Kamala Harris, which Trump said was down to her being “incompetent.”

Instead, she made a pre-taped message, played during the dinner, featuring SNL comedian Molly Shannon playing character Mary Katherine Gallagher.

Speaking last night, Trump accused Harris’ snub of the dinner as being “disrespectful to our great Catholic community.”

He also laid into prominent Democrats including Chuck Schumer, who was in the room at the same time.

Asked by the Fox & Friends team on the famous curved couch about whether RFK Jr. would be part of his administration, he said that he spends “every second of every day” thinking about who his team will be.

And he said that some of the people at the Al Smith dinner would be in his administration.

The former president also answered questions from viewers, including one from a six-year-old boy who lives on a farm in Massachusetts.

Asked what his favorite farm animal was, Trump joked that under Kamala Harris “you won’t have cows anymore,” adding, “I love cows I think they’re so cute and so beautiful.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

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Putin’s spy pal who was tyrant’s ‘eyes & ears’ dies after ‘falling down stairs & breaking neck’ in latest mystery death

A RETIRED senior Russian official close to both Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s secret services has died.

Former director of the Federal Migration Service, Konstantin Romodanovsky, 67, fell down the stairs of his country house and broke his neck.

a man in a suit and tie with a green hbs logo behind him
East2West
Career FSB secret services officer Konstantin Romodanovsky[/caption]
two men sit at a desk in front of a russian flag
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Konstantin Romodanovsky (right) was allegedly Vladimir Putin’s (left) eyes and ears in several government departments[/caption]

Romodanovsky had worked under Putin as an FSB intelligence officer and acted as the dictator’s “eyes and ears” in several government departments.

Notably, he served in the Interior Ministry while always remaining a seconded secret services officer, it has been reported.

The migration service – in charge of controlling immigration – is part of the Interior Ministry.

Romodanovsky held the rank Colonel-General in the ministry, but had been the first head of the FSB’s security directorate where his nickname was “Boot” and he held a similar high rank.

Telegram channel VChK-OGPU alleged that the former intelligence officer had “incriminating documents on many current politicians, businessmen and employees of the [secret service] agencies.”

“Romodanovsky died in his country house under very strange circumstances,” said the channel.

VChK-OGPU said that while retired,  Romodanovsky was active, serving on the boards of companies controlled by the powerful FSB secret service.

A source told the outlet: “Perhaps his death is related to his latest intoxication and he simply lost his balance.

“However, such ‘accidents’ have happened to several well-known businessmen and high-ranking FSB employees who were closely connected with the so-called St. Petersburg-Petrozavodsk group.

“In any case, Konstantin Romodanovsky will not tell anything more.”

Leading pro-Putin Russian MP Alexander Khinshtein reported his tragic death and said: “I can’t believe it.

“I spoke with him just last week. He was full of energy and plans.”

There has been no official statement on the cause of his demise but it is the latest of dozens of mysterious deaths during Putin’s war against Ukraine.

Romodanovsky isn’t the only Russian official to die under mysterious circumstances.

A top Putin crony who was set to be a key witness in a major Kremlin corruption scandal died under mysterious circumstances.

Russian general Magomed Khandayev, 61, was head of the State Expertise Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Khandayev was seen as a key witness in a corruption scandal shrouding the Russian defence ministry amid Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine.

His body was flown to Moscow to his home region of Dagestan for burial, according to reports.

The cause of Khandayev’s death has not been specified.

A Russian news outlet said Khandayev had a “close connection with high-ranking officials whose activities have recently attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies.”

Meanwhile, football hooligan turned Putin’s spy chief Maksim Yeremin mysteriously died after choking on a piece of meat.

Former FSB colonel Yeremin was eating at his favourite restaurant in Moscow before his freak death aged just 50.

He was rushed to Vorokhobov Hospital on August 25 but couldn’t be saved, a Russian Telegram post revealed.

The official cause of death for the dad-of-three was listed as “mechanical asphyxiation”.

Yeremin, also known as Yeryoma, first rose to fame standing on the football terraces in Russia’s top division as a fan of CSKA Moscow.

He quickly became one of the most feared hooligans after helping to create the prominent Red-Blue Warriors.

His obituary described him as “always at the forefront of fan violence, leading the charge in all the most notorious incidents from 1993 to 2000″.

It added he was a “very difficult character – uncompromising, straightforward, and honest”.

“Such people are not always liked, but they are always respected.”

His ruthless reputation as a thuggish supporter soon caught the eye of the Kremlin as Yeremin was recruited to the FSB in the late 1990s.

It comes after Vladimir Egorov, an ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was found dead after a suspected fall from a third floor window.

A member of the ruling party United Russia, 46-year-old Egorov was a wealthy and prominent politician in oil-rich Tobolsk in western Siberia.

His dead body was reportedly found in the yard of his house, with one source claiming there was “no visible sign of a criminal death on the [politician’s] body.”

An interlocutor said: “One of the most likely reasons is heart problems.”

Egorov is just the latest of many in the Kremlin’s inner circle to die under mysterious circumstances.

According to the 72 news outlet, he may have suffered heart problems – although such issues have frequently been offered as an explanation for untimely or suspicious deaths in Russia that have soared since the start of the war against Ukraine.

a man in a suit and tie is holding up a passport
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Romodanovsky was in charge of immigration[/caption]

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