Jacob Jaffa

Jacob Jaffa is the JC's Digital News Editor. His specialist topics include UK and US politics, the far-right and antisemitism in Europe. You can reach him on jjaffa@thejc.com

Latest from Jacob Jaffa

Iran

Tehran ‘in survival mode’ as Trump threatens ‘hard hit’ over protestor killings

Ayatollah Khamenei has pledged to put demonstrators ‘in their place’, but pressure is mounting on his regime as an economic crisis and fresh conflict with the US loom large

2 min read

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on July 5, 2024 in Tehran, Iran (Getty Images)

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei (left), during a state television broadcast in June 2025, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima after being seized by US forces in Caracas on January 3 (Getty Images/Truth Social)

Could Khameini be the next Maduro?

2 min read

Ex-JFS pupil Charlotte Niddam confirmed dead in fire at Swiss ski resort

2 min read

US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (off frame) at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025 (Getty Images)

US military ‘locked and loaded’ to intervene if Iran harms peaceful protestors, says Trump

2 min read

Minutes of West Midlands Police meeting contain no suggestion Jewish community backed Maccabi fan ban

Representatives of the force even noted that Jewish groups ‘expressed concern that banning away fans could be perceived as antisemitic’, according to official records disclosed under a Freedom of Information request

2 min read

January 2, 2026 09:42

A man protests the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of the team's Europa League match against Aston Villa on November 06, 2025, in Birmingham (Getty Images)

Hamas unveils new spokesman after confirming death of Abu Obeida

The move comes just weeks before the group is expected to elect a new leader for its political wing

2 min read

December 31, 2025 14:48

Hamas' new military spokesman, who took on the mantle of Abu Obeida from Hudayfa al-Kahlout, confirms the death of his predecessor in a video address on December 29, 2025 (Hamas)

Israel bars 37 humanitarian groups from Gaza and West Bank over alleged breaches of anti-terror rules

The Knesset also passed a bill to cut off water and electricity supplies to Unrwa in the territories and strip the agency’s representatives of diplomatic immunity

2 min read

December 31, 2025 10:53

Storm-damaged tents along the seafront in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on December 28, 2025 (Getty Images)

West Midlands Police apologise for saying Jews wanted Maccabi fan ban – but still claim some back it ‘privately’

Chief Constable Craig Guildford admitted the force had ‘no documented feedback’ from the community when the claim was made, but insisted there was ‘never any intention to mislead’

1 min read

December 31, 2025 07:27

Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police (Parliament TV)

Islamic State calls for ‘season of terror’ against Jews in the US, Europe and Israel

The terror group is seemingly looking to reassert itself in the Middle East after its power base largely collapsed in 2019

1 min read

December 30, 2025 15:04

Netanyahu pardon ‘on its way’ claims Trump, despite Herzog pushback

The Israeli prime minister submitted his request for clemency last month, but declined to admit any guilt in doing so

1 min read

December 30, 2025 14:41

US President Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025 (Getty Images)

Hamas set to elect new leader within weeks

Pro-Iran candidate Khalil al-Hayya is understood to be the frontrunner, while rival contender Khaled Mashaal reportedly favours closer ties with more ‘moderate’ Arab states

1 min read

December 30, 2025 11:58

Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official Abdulaziz al-Minawi (L), Hamas' Arab relations chief Khalil al-Hayya (C) and Secretary General of the PFLP-GC Talal Naji (R) hold a press conference during a visit to the Syrian capital Damascus on October 19, 2022 (Getty Images)

Trump offers backing for fresh Iran strikes amid threat of ‘total war’

The president’s warning came amid a spate of mass protests within Iran over the country’s deepening economic crisis

1 min read

December 30, 2025 11:41

US President Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

Trump calls on Hamas to disarm or face ‘hell’ during Mar-a-Lago summit with Netanyahu

The US president voiced full support for Israel’s action in Gaza, but clashed with Netanyahu over the West Bank

2 min read

December 30, 2025 10:59

Gaza charity leaders arrested in Italy over alleged Hamas fundraising

The suspects, as well as two others outside the country, are accused of using humanitarian foundations to funnel millions to the terror group

1 min read

December 28, 2025 12:17

Italian police van outside the Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine (Getty Images)

Israel confirms formal recognition of Somaliland

Jerusalem announced the move just days before Somalia, from which the country claims independence, takes over presidency of the UN

2 min read

December 28, 2025 11:19

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, now president of Somaliland, speaks during a press conference on November 10, 2024, ahead of the 2024 presidential election (Getty Images)

Netanyahu suggests October 7 inquiry will examine impact of Gaza disengagement and anti-judicial reform protests

The scope of the investigation could run all the way back to the 1993 Oslo Accords

1 min read

December 23, 2025 13:38

Prime Minister Netanyahu during a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance at the Prime Minister's Office on October 22, 2025 (Getty Images)

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Jacob Jaffa

Latest from Jacob Jaffa

Tehran ‘in survival mode’ as Trump threatens ‘hard hit’ over protestor killings

Could Khameini be the next Maduro?

Ex-JFS pupil Charlotte Niddam confirmed dead in fire at Swiss ski resort

US military ‘locked and loaded’ to intervene if Iran harms peaceful protestors, says Trump

More from Jacob Jaffa

Minutes of West Midlands Police meeting contain no suggestion Jewish community backed Maccabi fan ban

Hamas unveils new spokesman after confirming death of Abu Obeida

Israel bars 37 humanitarian groups from Gaza and West Bank over alleged breaches of anti-terror rules

West Midlands Police apologise for saying Jews wanted Maccabi fan ban – but still claim some back it ‘privately’

Islamic State calls for ‘season of terror’ against Jews in the US, Europe and Israel

Netanyahu pardon ‘on its way’ claims Trump, despite Herzog pushback

Hamas set to elect new leader within weeks

Trump offers backing for fresh Iran strikes amid threat of ‘total war’

Trump calls on Hamas to disarm or face ‘hell’ during Mar-a-Lago summit with Netanyahu

Gaza charity leaders arrested in Italy over alleged Hamas fundraising

Israel confirms formal recognition of Somaliland

Netanyahu suggests October 7 inquiry will examine impact of Gaza disengagement and anti-judicial reform protests