A senior Houthi official just gave a rare interview to Israeli media outlet Ynet, and the message was anything but ambiguous. In the official’s words:

“We want Israel erased and Al‑Aqsa Mosque purified… its end is a divine certainty.”

Let that sink in. While the world debates ceasefires and humanitarian corridors, the Houthis—already launching missiles toward Israel—are stating openly that the very existence of the Jewish state is unacceptable.

This isn’t just fiery rhetoric. It’s a chilling reminder that ideology—not just politics or borders—is at the heart of this conflict. The Houthis see themselves as part of the Iranian-backed "Axis of Resistance," and they are not shy about their end goal.

There’s no video or audio of the interview, and the official’s name wasn’t released—raising questions about sourcing. But the tone, language, and message are perfectly in line with the group’s stated doctrine. Their slogan literally reads:
“God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam.”

This is what Israel is up against—not just in Gaza, but from Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Tehran.

When someone says they want to wipe you off the map, believe them.

It was another blistering day down near the Gaza border — in more ways than one. As I stood on a familiar hilltop outside the town of Sderot, just two kilometers from the Gaza fence, the echoes of war were all around us. The dust clouds, the deep booms of airstrikes, the staccato of small arms fire — it’s not theoretical here. It’s live. And it’s real.

The View From the Front

Alongside my colleague Oscar Blue, I returned to the same overlook I’ve visited countless times since the war began. Today, we witnessed some of the most intense fighting to date. Just across the border in Beit Hanoun, Israeli Defense Forces are zeroing in on remaining pockets of Hamas resistance. Tanks and troop carriers moved back and forth, and jets screamed overhead. Israel is not letting up.

And yet, despite the active warzone just over the ridge, life in Israel continues. Families were out at pools and beaches enjoying Shabbat. Children played under the same skies where drones fly. This contrast is part of what makes Israel so remarkable. In the face of horror, life goes on. And buildings go up. The reconstruction in southern Israel is nothing short of miraculous. In Sderot and surrounding kibbutzim, new homes are rising, replacing those destroyed in the October 7th massacre.

This week, the Houthis took their war to a whole new level—sinking two commercial ships in the Red Sea in just a matter of days. First, the Magic Seas was hit and went down. Then came the Eternity C, boarded by armed Houthi fighters who planted explosives on the hull and detonated them. The shocking video released by the group shows militants moving through the ship, firing weapons into walls and windows. Most of the crew is still unaccounted for.

So why now?