A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Spainsat Next Generation 2 (NG-2) satellite lifted off into at 0130 UTC on Oct. 24, from Space Launch Complex (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida marking the company's 139th mission of the year and setting a new record for the most launches in a single calendar year.

This Falcon 9 booster B1076, which had previously flown 21 times, was used in an expendable configuration to meet the additional performance requirements needed to deliver the heavy satellite to its intended orbit. This decision allowed for weight savings by omitting landing legs and grid fins, thereby increasing the rocket's lift capacity. The payload fairing halves were recovered via parachutes after descending into the Atlantic Ocean.

"This launch marks the 22nd and final launch for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting today’s mission as additional performance is required to deliver the SpainSat NG II satellite to geosynchronous orbit," SpaceX wrote on X. "The first stage booster supporting today’s mission previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, SES O3b mPOWER-C, Ovzon-3, Eutelsat 26D, Turksat 6A, Maxar 2, SXM-9, and 12 Starlink missions."

The Falcon 9's upper stage deployed the Spainsat NG-2 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit about 34 minutes after liftoff.

The Spainsat NG-2 satellite, manufactured by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space on behalf of Spain-based Hisdesat, is designed to provide military-grade secure communications for the Spanish Armed Forces and their international partners. It is part of a larger constellation that will cover extensive global regions, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the United States, enabling effective command and control over approximately two-thirds of the Earth's surface.

The satellite, with a fully fueled mass of 6.1 tonnes, will operate at the 29 degrees East orbital position and is expected to remain in service until 2037.

The Spainsat NG-2 mission is a key component of Spain’s effort to modernize its military communications infrastructure and is aligned with NATO and EU GOVSATCOM programme requirements.

The satellites represent a significant technological advancement, offering 16 times greater X and Ka-band capacity compared to their predecessors and enhanced resilience against jamming, spoofing, and high-altitude nuclear phenomena.

The project, led by a consortium including Airbus D&S and Thales Alenia Space, has seen over 45% of its components manufactured in Spain, contributing to more than 500 skilled jobs during development and maintaining over 100 engineers annually during its operational lifespan.

US Senator Ted Cruz delivered a speech at Pastor John Hagee Ministries' 45th annual Night to Honor Israel in San Antonio on Tuesday, where he warned of what he claims to be a "growing cancer" of so-called right-wing anti-Semitism in the United States, saying he had never seen such a rise in the last six months.

The U.S. senator criticized what he claims to be the spread of anti-Semitic rhetoric among young Christians, attributing it to the dissemination of "lies" and "theological lies" like replacement theology, which he claims undermines the validity of God's promises to Israel and the Jewish people. He also expressed concern over prominent right-wing figures making statements he claims, downplay the evil of Hitler and the Holocaust, and he highlighted the alleged influence of foreign actors like Iran and Qatar in spreading anti-Semitic content online.

Cruz claimed that even a simple X post by him can generate hundreds of anti-Semitic responses. He referenced conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initially attributed anti-Semitic online activity to foreign state actors but later acknowledged it was also organic and spreading among real individuals.

The U.S. senator condemned the rise of replacement theology, a doctrine, he claims, falsely teaches that the Christian church has replaced Israel and that God’s promises to the Jews are no longer valid. However Christian leaders have historically understood so-called chosen people to mean practicing Christians who accept and live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, as the He himself said in the Bible (John 14: 6).

Cruz also defended U.S. aid to Israel ($3 billion annually) as a national security bargain, yielding intelligence worth "tens of billions," and rooted his stance in Genesis 12:3 ("I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you"). Cruz ended with an Esther reference: "We are placed here for such a time as this... As for me and my house, we shall stand with Israel."

However critics point out that both the fake and real intelligence provided by the Israeli intelligence, Mossad, had led to thousands of American troops fighting and dying in wars to defend Israeli interests in the middle east in the last two decades costing the U.S. trillions in dollars.

Cruz's remarks drew swift ire and mockery online, with many social media users, dubbing the senator "Tel Aviv Ted" and demanded he "resign and lobby for Tel Aviv." Critics accused him of prioritizing Israel over America. "Ted Cruz is biblically ignorant and bribed," one X post reads.

The neoconservative U.S. senator has publicly clashed with other conservative figures, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, over their positions on Israel and anti-Semitism. The senator has faced backlash for declaring, during an interview with Carlson, that he ran for senate and was elected to serve the state of Israel.

Hagee, an 85-year-old televangelist and founder of CUFI, the largest pro-Israel group in the U.S., delivered a sermon drawing from Deuteronomy 7:6 in the Bible, which describes the Jewish people as a "holy people" and "treasured possession" chosen by God "out of all the peoples on the face of the earth."

He said: "For you, Israel, are chosen, a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the people on the face of the earth. That includes the United States of America."

The remark, captured in a widely circulated video clip, sparked immediate online backlash for its phrasing, which critics interpreted as promoting Jewish supremacism over other nations, including the U.S.. The addition of "that includes the United States of America" amplified perceptions of it as inflammatory or cult-like devotion.

Reactions to Cruz's and Hagee's remarks expose rifts in the right-wing ranks amid post-October 7, 2023 debates. There has been growing anti-Israel sentiment in the west, even among the only remaining base of strong support for Israel: the American right.

Many pro-Israel neoconservatives and liberals, have in recent years, faced backlash for smearing conservatives and other right-wing voices who criticize Israeli influence on American or European foreign policy in the middle east. The pro-Israel activists, critics argue, are mostly Jewish supremacists, Zionists and war hawks who care more about the interests of Israel than their own countries.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, joined top President Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Israel for meetings this week, as Trump administration is reportedly increasingly concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may abandon the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement. This visit is reportedly an effort to pressure Netanyahu to adhere to the truce and prevent a return to full-scale war.

The U.S. officials visited the newly opened U.S.-led Civilian-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, Israel, on Tuesday, expressing optimism that the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire would hold, despite recent flare-ups of violence. Vance stated that progress was "better than I expected" and emphasized the need for constant monitoring, while Kushner indicated the U.S. was considering beginning reconstruction in areas of Gaza still under Israeli control, though no funds would be allocated to Hamas-controlled zones.

Vance, speaking at the CMCC, affirmed that the ceasefire, part of President Trump’s broader peace plan, was going better than anticipated, though he acknowledged it was not guaranteed to succeed and required sustained effort. He reiterated the administration’s stance that Hamas must comply with the agreement, warning that failure to do so would lead to severe consequences, though he declined to set a deadline for disarmament.

Kushner reported surprisingly strong coordination between the UN and Israel on humanitarian aid delivery, and said the U.S. was exploring the start of reconstruction in Israeli-controlled parts of Gaza to provide Palestinians with a place to live, work, and access jobs, aiming to offer tangible benefits to the population. He emphasized that reconstruction funds would not be available for areas under Hamas control.

Witkoff said that the US team is "exceeding where we thought we would be" in implementing the ceasefire and that the coordination center could serve as a model for future peace deals.

The CMCC, staffed by approximately 200 U.S. troops, serves as the central hub for monitoring the ceasefire and coordinating the deployment of an international stabilization force(ISF) envisioned by the Trump administration, with supporting personnel from Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey.

The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, 2025, has faced repeated violations, including an incident on Sunday, October 20, where Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack attributed by Israel to Hamas, though President Trump described it as a "rebellion" by "rogue elements" not sanctioned by the Hamas leadership.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians to Gaza, in accordance with the 15-to-1 ratio for deceased Israeli hostages.

Vance and his delegation, including U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, downplayed the notion that the visit was a reaction to recent violence, asserting the trip was part of a planned effort to reinforce the peace process.

Despite public optimism from Vance about the ceasefire's viability, U.S. officials privately worry Netanyahu could use recent violence as a pretext to resume military operations. The Trump administration's strategy focuses on preventing Netanyahu from launching a full-scale offensive against Hamas.

During a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, after meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, both jointly rejected claims that Israel is a US "client state," with Netanyahu calling the idea "hogwash" and Vance affirming the US wants a partnership with an ally. Vance emphasized that the US is not seeking to impose a strict deadline on Hamas for disarmament, acknowledging the complexity and unpredictability of the process, but warned that non-compliance would lead to "very bad things."

Vance downplayed concerns about the deal's fragility, stating he is optimistic it will hold but acknowledging it will not be easy, while rejecting the idea that his visit was to "babysit" the ceasefire.

The Vice President confirmed that the US is working toward establishing the ISF to replace Hamas and ensure security in Gaza, with US troops stationed at the coordination center but not expected to enter Gaza or engage in combat. Netanyahu said he has "strong opinions" on the participation of Turkish troops in the ISF.

The US is also focused on ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches civilians without falling into the wrong hands.

Knesset Bill On West Bank Annexation During Vance's Israel Visit, A Slap In The Face To Trump?

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset passed a bill aimed at advancing the annexation of parts of the West Bank, a move that contradicts President Trump’s public warnings against such actions. The move is sure to attract the ire of the U.S. president, and may be seen as a slap in face during Vance's visit.

Trump had previously stated on Truth Social that he would not allow the US to support any move toward annexation, emphasizing that the focus should be on a stable peace plan.

The passage of the bill, however, signals a significant shift in Israeli policy and raises concerns about the future of the peace process, especially as the US continues to push for a long-term solution. The timing of the Knesset vote, occurring just as Vance and Netanyahu discussed the "day after" in Gaza, highlights the tension between diplomatic efforts and domestic political developments in Israel.