Israel and Hamas at War – Day 788

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday to declare the stretch along the Israel-Egypt border a closed military zone, saying the move is meant to stop drone-borne weapons smuggling into Gaza. After a Defense Ministry meeting on the drone threat in Tel Aviv, Katz said he and Shin Bet chief David Zini agreed to classify the activity as “a terrorist threat.”

“We are declaring war—anyone who breaches the forbidden area will be struck,” Katz said.

The Defense Ministry added that its Directorate of Defense Research and Development will push technological countermeasures. Officials said the “terrorist threat” designation expands security agencies’ authorities to act against smugglers.

The announcement follows repeated drone incidents on the Sinai frontier, a 200-km border fortified with fencing, observation posts, and radars under the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace framework. Local officials reported nearly 900 drones between July and October 2025 in the Ramat HaNegev area, where most smuggling attempts were detected.

Palestine Liberation Organization official Azzam al-Ahmad said Thursday that any international force proposed for the Gaza Strip must operate under a UN Security Council mandate and in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, not replace it. According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, he stated, “The Palestinian position is clear. Any international force should be established under a UN Security Council resolution and in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, rather than replacing or taking over the role of Palestinian security forces.”

Al-Ahmad said recent understandings with Hamas provide that Gaza’s administrative committee “will be affiliated with the Palestinian government and headed by one of its ministers.” He added there is “a clear Arab consensus” that Palestinian security forces should remain responsible for security in the Strip.

Training for those forces is already underway, al-Ahmad said, citing programs in Jordan and Egypt “to prepare them to assume their responsibilities in the Strip,” with “hundreds of personnel” now in specialized courses.

The Israel Defense Forces reported Wednesday that its troops eliminated two Hamas fighters who breached the Yellow Line—the demarcation separating areas under Israeli control following a partial withdrawal—and advanced toward soldiers in two separate encounters in central Gaza.

According to the military, both assailants posed an “immediate threat” to nearby forces. Troops acted swiftly to neutralize them and remove the danger, with the incident confirmed in a 3:40 p.m. update. At the same time, the IDF conducted a series of airstrikes and artillery attacks targeting Hamas positions across the region.

Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed that the army would continue operating with full force against any Hamas fighters detected within zones held by Israel. He emphasized that the campaign to destroy Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure under the Yellow Line will proceed even during the ceasefire period.

“Israel’s policy in Gaza is clear,” Katz said. “The IDF is dismantling tunnels and eliminating Hamas terrorists without restriction in all areas under our control. Our mission remains to bring every hostage home, recover our fallen, and ensure Gaza is disarmed and demilitarized.”

Meanwhile, discussions are reportedly underway over a possible arrangement that would allow safe passage for roughly 200 Hamas operatives believed to be hiding in tunnels on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, primarily beneath Rafah. Any such plan, officials noted, would prohibit them from carrying weapons.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be weighing a proposal that would permit the gunmen to leave the area in exchange for disarmament and the return of the remains of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, who was killed in Gaza in 2014.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a tougher approach, telling Kan radio that Israel should “finish off the 200 terrorists stuck in Rafah,” saying troops were close to “eliminating them in the tunnels.”

The developments came amid continued international praise for the Gaza ceasefire framework, even as Israeli forces maintained readiness to respond to renewed threats inside the Strip.

An Israeli reservist was killed Tuesday when Palestinian terrorists opened fire on troops operating in Rafah, violating the fragile ceasefire in the southern Gaza Strip, the army confirmed Wednesday morning.

The victim was identified as Master Sgt. (res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, of Neria, who served as a heavy machinery operator in the Gaza Division. According to an initial military probe, terrorists targeted both an IDF position and an excavator in Rafah’s Jenina neighborhood around 3:45 p.m. Feldbaum was fatally struck while operating the vehicle. Minutes later, additional rounds of fire and several rocket-propelled grenades were launched at nearby armored vehicles, though no other soldiers were injured.

Troops immediately returned fire and destroyed multiple threats in the area, including tunnel shafts and structures used by gunmen. The Jenina neighborhood, situated east of the so-called Yellow Line marking Israel’s area of control, has remained a pocket of terrorist activity despite ongoing IDF efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure there. In recent days, soldiers uncovered tunnel systems and engaged armed operatives who surfaced from underground positions.

The attack mirrored an earlier assault in the same neighborhood last week that killed two Israeli soldiers, prompting a series of retaliatory airstrikes. Following Tuesday’s killing, the Israel Defense Forces launched a wide operation overnight targeting dozens of sites across Gaza. The army said it struck over 30 commanders and numerous installations belonging to Hamas and allied terror groups.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Israel declared that the ceasefire had been reinstated. “Following a series of strikes against dozens of terror targets, the IDF has resumed enforcement of the ceasefire after Hamas violated it,” the military said. “The IDF will continue to uphold the agreement and respond decisively to any breach.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed further action against Hamas leadership abroad, warning that “no one is immune — not those in suits, nor those in tunnels.” He said the operation delivered a “powerful response” and that anyone who attacks Israeli forces “will pay the full price.”

Israel on Sunday authorized Red Cross and Egyptian recovery teams to enter the Gaza Strip to locate and retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said. The teams were cleared to move beyond the “yellow line,” the perimeter marking the Israel Defense Forces’ withdrawal zone under the current ceasefire, to conduct searches coordinated with Israeli authorities inside Gaza.

Bedrosian said Hamas has not yet returned the bodies of 13 hostages. Under the ceasefire terms, Hamas is obligated to hand over the remains of 28 people confirmed dead, in addition to the 20 living hostages it released earlier this month.

The announcement followed Hamas’ statement that it is widening its search for the dead, and came a day after an Egyptian technical team with heavy equipment entered Gaza to assist recovery efforts. The move signals a broader implementation phase of the ceasefire arrangement focused on the repatriation of remains alongside ongoing humanitarian and security coordination.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would make its own decisions on future military action in Gaza and Lebanon, even under current ceasefire arrangements. At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told ministers that Israel would not ask outside powers for authorization to strike if it deems action necessary to protect its citizens. “Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves with our own forces, and we will continue to control our destiny,” he said. “We do not seek anyone’s approval for this. We control our security.”

Netanyahu also addressed discussions about deploying international peacekeeping units in Gaza, saying Israel will have a say over which nations may participate. “We have made it clear that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and we will continue to act accordingly,” he said. His comments followed a week of high-level visits by senior White House officials focused on shoring up the fragile truce and coordinating next steps.

Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of two hostages from Gaza, following Hamas’ announcement Tuesday evening that it would return the remains to the Red Cross for transfer to the Israel Defense Forces.

The handover comes one day after the group delivered the body of Tal Haimi, who was killed defending his community during the October 7, 2023, attack.

Hamas’ armed wing said the bodies had been “retrieved today in the Strip,” but did not release their names or details of the circumstances. The Red Cross confirmed it was sending vehicles to the designated site in southern Gaza to collect the remains, which will then be taken to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification.

The exchange is part of the ongoing ceasefire arrangement under which Hamas released the final 20 living hostages last week, within three days of Israel’s pullback to the Yellow Line.

Since the truce began, the group has also returned the remains of 13 slain hostages, while 15 bodies are still expected to be handed over, including that of an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war—the only hostage held from before last year’s attack.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it also coordinated the transfer of 15 Palestinian bodies from Israel to Gaza on Tuesday, bringing the total number of deceased Palestinians repatriated under the deal to 165. “The ICRC today facilitated the transfer of deceased Palestinians to authorities in Gaza,” the organization said in a statement, confirming that local health officials in Gaza had received the bodies.

According to the terms of the ceasefire, Israel returns the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each hostage’s body it receives. The handovers have been conducted quietly in recent days, with Red Cross vehicles traveling between Israeli and Gazan checkpoints under close coordination by both sides.

The process marks a continuation of the fragile truce, now in its later stages, as efforts continue to recover the remains of Israelis killed or abducted since Hamas’s assault on southern Israel.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said Sunday it located the body of an Israeli hostage during ongoing searches across the Gaza Strip and plans to transfer the remains “when field conditions allow.” In a statement, the group said its fighters found the body “during continuous search efforts in several areas of the Gaza Strip,” adding that the handover depends on security conditions on the ground. The Brigades cited the presence of Israeli forces and sporadic clashes as factors complicating recovery and transfer. It also warned that any new Israeli military action “would obstruct the ongoing search, excavation, and recovery operations, and delay the occupation’s retrieval of its soldiers’ bodies.”

The announcement comes as Israel and Hamas argue over steps to implement a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10. That truce includes provisions for exchanging captives and bodies. Previous arrangements between the sides have relied on third-party mediation in Egypt and Qatar to coordinate transfers and establish safe corridors.

Egypt’s Red Crescent said Sunday it dispatched a convoy of roughly 8,500 tons of humanitarian supplies toward the Gaza Strip as the Rafah crossing remains closed until further notice. The convoy—hundreds of trucks organized under an ERC initiative launched in late July—was routed toward Rafah while access decisions rest with Israeli authorities and the parties managing the ceasefire framework.

According to the Egyptian Red Crescent, the shipment includes about 3,500 tons of food baskets and flour, more than 2,300 tons of medical and relief items, and over 2,500 tons of fuel. This is the 53rd ERC convoy sent from Egypt since late July. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees says more than 6,000 trucks are waiting on Israel’s clearance to enter Gaza.

Border logistics remain fluid. The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced Saturday that Rafah would reopen Monday to allow Palestinians in Egypt to return to Gaza. Hours later, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the crossing would stay closed until further notice, adding that any opening would be weighed against Hamas’s implementation of its part in the agreed framework, including issues related to the return of deceased hostages.

Fighting has tested the truce. The Israeli army reported airstrikes in southern Gaza on Sunday, saying Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at Israeli troops. Gaza’s health authorities report 68,159 deaths and 170,203 injuries since Oct. 7, 2023, and say that 35 people have been killed and 146 wounded since Oct. 11 despite the ceasefire.

A ceasefire brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey took effect Oct. 10 after two years of conflict. Humanitarian agencies say sustained access, fuel deliveries, and cross-border security guarantees are essential for large-scale relief and reconstruction.

The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for the transfer and return of hostages early Monday. A security official said the operation is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. in northern Gaza, though the timing could change. 

The Red Cross has met with the hostages and has reported some are in serious condition.

According to Israeli officials, six hostages are expected to be freed in the first phase: Matan Angrest, brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, and Omri Miran and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. The group is believed to be held in Gaza City and will be released through a northern Gaza handover site. 

A convoy of Red Cross vehicles has already departed for the site, where the hostages will be transferred from Hamas custody to IDF troops inside the Strip. From there, the freed captives will be escorted out of Gaza to an army facility near Re’im, where they will undergo initial medical and psychological evaluations before reuniting with their families. 

The remaining living hostages are expected to be released later in the day from other areas of Gaza, according to Israeli security sources. 

Across Israel, crowds have begun gathering in anticipation of the release. Hostages Square in Tel Aviv is filling with supporters, while residents in southern communities near the Gaza border are lining the roads awaiting news from the Re’im base. Friends and families of the captives have also begun preparing celebrations nationwide, marking what many hope will be the beginning of the hostages’ long-awaited return home. 

Israel’s military said Thursday that Staff Sgt. Chalachew Shimon Demalash, 21, was killed by sniper fire on Wednesday while guarding an Israel Defense Forces position on the outskirts of Gaza City, as troops advanced in a renewed operation against Hamas. Medics treated Demalash at the scene, but he was declared dead. He served in the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion and was from Beersheba.

Defense Minister Israel Katz offered condolences, writing that “the entire State of Israel honors his heroism and embraces his family,” and pledged to fight “until the return of all the hostages and the defeat of our enemies.”

The IDF said the air force struck more than 170 targets across the Strip over the past day, including weapons depots and fighters, while ground divisions pressed forward. In central Gaza, the Hamas-run civil defense said an Israeli strike on a house sheltering displaced people killed at least 11, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Israeli forces used a drone to strike a civilian car in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing a Hezbollah operative, Lebanese officials said. The attack occurred on the Khardali–Marjayoun road near the border area, where Hezbollah forces are not permitted according to the November 27, 2024 ceasefire.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported the strike and said the killed Hezbollah member was from the village of Kafr Kila. A Lebanese army intelligence source identified him as Hassan Shahrour.

Firing across the frontier has largely subsided since the United States and France brokered a ceasefire that ended more than a year of cross-border clashes sparked by the war in the Gaza Strip. Even so, Israel has carried out intermittent strikes inside Lebanon that it says are intended to stop Hezbollah operations. The Israeli military has also kept forces at five positions along the border area. Israeli authorities did not immediately comment on Saturday’s incident.

Israeli forces said Saturday they carried out about 100 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip the previous day and widened ground operations in Gaza City, part of their campaign against Hamas that began in October 2023. The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes targeted underground infrastructure, weapons storage sites, and armed cells, while ground troops worked to dismantle tunnels, booby-trapped buildings, Hamas operational hubs, and sniper positions. The military said troops killed Hamas fighters and seized weapons in Gaza City and in operations in the north and south, including Khan Younis and Rafah.

Palestine’s official news agency WAFA reported that at least 34 Palestinians were killed and about 200 were wounded in the last 24 hours due to Israeli strikes.

More than 400,000 residents have fled Gaza City since Israel began a ground invasion aimed at seizing what it calls the main Hamas stronghold. Despite the exodus, hundreds of thousands remain in the city, wary of leaving amid fears of permanent displacement, harsh conditions in the south, and the risks of the journey itself. 

In recent days, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed high-rise buildings across Gaza City as the army prepared for its push on the ground. The military has urged civilians to head south to a designated “humanitarian zone.”

Families trying to escape crowded into vehicles or set out on foot along the coastal highway, but many others have chosen to stay. Residents cite high transportation costs, poor health, overcrowding in the south, and shortages of food and supplies as reasons for remaining behind. 

On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced a new temporary evacuation route through Salah al-Din Road. In a message posted on Telegram, a spokesperson said the corridor would remain open for 48 hours to give civilians another option to leave Gaza City as fighting escalates. 

The offensive officially began Tuesday, with Israeli officials estimating that about 40 percent of Gaza City’s pre-invasion population has already departed. According to figures provided by the Israeli military, roughly 400,000 people have fled since August 10, the date Israel announced its plan to take control of the city.

The Gaza media office reported that 190,000 people moved south while 350,000 relocated to central and western neighborhoods within the city itself. 

An Israeli official said operations are concentrated on pushing civilians to evacuate before the army fully engages Hamas fighters. A military official estimated that intense fighting will continue in Gaza City for a month or two, noting that the military expects about 100,000 civilians to remain. Capturing the city could take months, according to the same assessment. 

For now, Gaza City remains divided with tens of thousands streaming out along evacuation routes, while many others hunker down in damaged neighborhoods, bracing for a prolonged battle. 

Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes Wednesday on Houthi-controlled Yemen, striking targets in Sanaa and the northern city of al-Hazm in Jawf province, after the group’s drone penetrated Israeli defenses and hit Ramon Airport. The raids targeted military facilities and a fuel station, according to Houthi-run media and rebel authorities, as Israel seeks to curb further attacks from Yemen.

The spokesman for the rebel military, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the group fired surface-to-air missiles at the attacking jets. Houthi-backed President Mahdi al-Mashat warned of retaliation, telling Israelis to “stay alarmed since the response is coming without fail.” A spokesman for the rebel-run Yemen Petroleum Company said a strike hit a station that supplies hospitals in the capital.

The strikes follow earlier attacks that killed senior Houthi officials, escalating a cross-border confrontation that has unfolded alongside the Gaza war. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and threatened Red Sea shipping, drawing repeated Israeli strikes on Yemeni territory.

Four Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed early Monday when Hamas fighters attacked a military encampment on the outskirts of Gaza City, the army confirmed. It was among the deadliest single incidents for Israel’s armored corps in recent weeks of intense combat.

The troops, all members of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, died after terrorists targeted their tank at an outpost positioned between Jabaliya and the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. According to the IDF, the assailants opened fire on the vehicle before hurling an explosive device that detonated inside, killing the entire crew.

The fallen soldiers were identified as Lt. Matan Abramovitz, 21, of Ganei Tikva; Staff Sgt. Uri Lamed, 20, of Tel Mond; Sgt. Gadi Cotal, 20, of Kibbutz Afikim; and Sgt. Amit Arye Regev, 19, of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut.

The outpost was jointly manned by tanks from the 401st Brigade and infantry of the Nahal Brigade’s 50th Battalion, which had recently returned from a night raid. Soldiers responded to the assault, killing at least one attacker, though others apparently fled. One Nahal fighter was moderately wounded.

A preliminary IDF probe determined there was no attempt to kidnap soldiers, though commanders were investigating whether the attackers infiltrated through an undiscovered tunnel.

The military noted that Hamas has increased such raids in recent weeks, often timed to exploit fatigue among front-line troops. The army estimates that terrorists attempt these kinds of guerrilla strikes about once a week, with most thwarted before causing major losses.

By Monday afternoon, Palestinian outlets reported heavy Israeli air and artillery strikes across Gaza City, describing a “fire belt” around sections of the urban center. Residents said the IDF issued evacuation warnings for several residential towers, one of which was later struck twice.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X that Israel was intensifying its offensive. “Today a mighty hurricane will strike over Gaza City and the rooftops of the terror towers will shake,” he wrote, warning Hamas leaders in Gaza and abroad to release hostages and surrender. “Otherwise Gaza will be destroyed and you will be eliminated,” he said, adding that preparations were underway to expand the operation and “decisively defeat Gaza.”

Israel’s military announced Saturday the creation of a new “humanitarian zone” in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, as it expanded its ground offensive to capture Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the zone, containing key humanitarian infrastructure, would allow the delivery of food, tents, medicine, and medical equipment as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of using heavy bombardment to push civilians out of Gaza City. Mahmoud Basal, a Civil Defense spokesperson in Gaza’s Hamas-run government, told the Chinese news agency Xinhua that Israeli strikes “aim to force residents to evacuate, turning entire neighborhoods into empty areas.” Hamas called the attacks a “systematic policy of displacement” and reiterated support for a 60-day ceasefire plan brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

In recent days, Israeli warplanes destroyed two residential towers in western Gaza City, which the IDF said were used by Hamas for intelligence purposes. Gaza authorities rejected the claims, saying the buildings sheltered displaced civilians.

Yemen’s Houthi group said Tuesday that it launched a wave of drone and missile attacks against targets in Israel and a commercial ship in the northern Red Sea, following an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa last week that killed Houthi-appointed Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and 11 ministers. The group announced the operation on the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV channel.

Military spokesman Yahya Sarea said “a Sammad-4 drone struck the Israeli army’s General Staff building” in Tel Aviv, and said other drones targeted a power station in Hadera, Ben Gurion International Airport, and the Port of Ashdod. He also said two drones and a cruise missile were launched at the container ship MSC Aby.

The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Israel or the ship’s operator. The announcement came a day after the group said it fired a missile near the Scarlet Ray oil tanker in the northern Red Sea. Israeli media reported last week’s strike on the Houthi cabinet was intended to deter further attacks; the group has vowed retaliation.

The Israel Defense Forces launched its largest call-up of reservists since the opening weeks of the war nearly two years ago, summoning tens of thousands of soldiers ahead of a planned Gaza City offensive. Yet the mobilization has been marked by widespread requests for exemptions and open opposition from some reservists. 

According to Hebrew media, around 60,000 reservists are expected to be drafted in several waves, with 40,000 to 50,000 ordered to report on Tuesday. The mobilization coincided with the start of the school year, leaving many families struggling to balance obligations. Units have reportedly noted thinner attendance compared to past emergency call-ups, with officers acknowledging fewer confirmed arrivals. 

The strain of nearly two years of repeated service, coupled with financial and personal hardships, has fueled reluctance. Many reservists have sought exemptions, citing family responsibilities or the cumulative toll of long absences. Some units have filled gaps with volunteers who are not organically part of their original battalions. 

In a notable act of protest, more than 300 reservists signed a letter declaring they would refuse to participate in the Gaza City operation, describing it as “patently illegal.” The letter is associated with the left-wing group Standing Together. 

The IDF has said the operation requires significant manpower, with plans to eventually deploy four divisions into Gaza City while shifting other forces to Israel’s northern and West Bank fronts. The army has warned that it needs 12,000 additional recruits to ease the burden on overstretched regular and reserve forces. 

Discontent has also been fueled by debates over exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men, with an estimated 80,000 eligible but not serving. Some reservists voiced frustration over carrying a disproportionate share of the burden. “We are not regular troops, but reserve soldiers. We have family, businesses, and studies—it shouldn’t look like this,” one reservist told Channel 12. 

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday that a reservist was killed fighting in the southern area of the Gaza Strip. On the same day, seven soldiers were wounded fighting in north Gaza.  

The fallen soldier was identified as Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Ariel Lubliner, 34, of Kiryat Bialik. According to an initial inquiry, he might have been killed in a so-called “friendly fire” incident by a fellow soldier in Khan Yunis. Israel’s military is performing a thorough review of this.  

Lubliner had moved to Israel from Brazil a decade ago and was nearing the end of his latest round of reserve duty, which began in June. He was scheduled to complete his service on Sunday, after which his family had planned a trip to Brazil. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, originally from Spain, and their 9-month-old son, Lior. 

His death brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the Hamas assault of October 7, 2023, to 900. Of those, 461 have fallen in the Gaza ground campaign and along the border. 

Separately, the military reported that seven soldiers were wounded Friday night when their armored vehicle rolled over an explosive device in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. One soldier was listed in moderate condition, while six sustained lighter injuries. Most of them have since been released from hospital. 

The IDF dismissed online claims that soldiers had been killed or captured in the blast, attributing the misinformation in part to Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera. Officials said all families of the wounded had been notified.

Hamas has acknowledged the death of its Gaza military commander, Mohammed Sinwar, months after Israel said he was killed in an airstrike in May. The group released images of Sinwar alongside other leaders, referring to them collectively as “martyrs.”

Sinwar was a key figure in Hamas’ armed operations in the Gaza Strip. His death had been reported by Israel earlier this year, but until now, the group had not confirmed it publicly.

He was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political chief in Gaza, who was also killed in combat last year. Yahya Sinwar played a central role in organizing the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, which sparked the current war.

The confirmation comes as Israel continues its campaign to dismantle Hamas’ leadership, targeting both political and military figures connected to the group’s planning and execution of attacks.

The Jordanian Armed Forces evacuated 19 sick children from Gaza to Jordan on Wednesday, marking the 10th medical transfer under the Jordanian Medical Corridor initiative. According to a military statement, 62 family members accompanied the children, who will receive specialized treatment in Jordanian hospitals.

The operation was coordinated with the Jordanian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, part of a broader humanitarian effort launched in March. Since then, Jordan has received 153 children and 365 relatives by both land and air routes for medical care.

King Abdullah II announced in February that Jordan was prepared to treat up to 2,000 Palestinian children from Gaza. The program has become one of the most visible elements of Amman’s humanitarian response to the conflict, with the kingdom positioning itself as a regional hub for emergency medical aid.

A new video showing the capture of Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack was released Monday by his family, who urged the government to secure the freedom of all remaining hostages.

The footage, recovered by the IDF during ground operations in Gaza, shows Cohen being pulled from a tank and marched toward the Strip by armed terrorists. A voice in the clip can be heard telling him he will not be harmed and will eventually return to Israel. Cohen, then 19, was the only survivor among four soldiers inside the tank, which had come under heavy fire from rocket-propelled grenades and explosives. His fellow soldiers—Omer Neutra, Shaked Dahan, and Oz Daniel—were killed, and their bodies taken into Gaza.

Cohen’s parents, Viki and Yehuda, said they first learned of the video two months ago and accused the military of withholding additional footage of their son. “When I, as a mother, saw the video, I felt fear and terror, just like on October 7,” Viki told Channel 12. “We don’t know his condition, what situation he is in. We are very worried for his fate.”

The Cohens have long criticized the government’s handling of the hostage crisis. On Monday, Yehuda alleged that more recordings exist but are being kept from the public to ease pressure for a deal. At least 20 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza.

The release of the footage came a day before a planned “day of struggle” by families of the captives, who continue to press for an agreement that would bring their relatives home and end the war.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fended off a rare large-scale attack in southern Gaza on Wednesday.  At least 18 Hamas fighters surfaced from a tunnel near Khan Yunis around 9 a.m., firing RPGs and machine guns at an IDF encampment. Soldiers of the Kfir Brigade returned fire, supported by tanks and airstrikes, killing ten fighters while the rest retreated underground. 

Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in the assault, one seriously. Video released by the IDF showed direct clashes inside the encampment and a tank striking an attacker carrying an RPG. Defrin said the military is investigating how the gunmen managed to breach the perimeter before being eliminated. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz are expected Thursday to sign off on plans for the capture of Gaza City. Their meeting comes as Egypt and Qatar present a Hamas-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 hostages. Netanyahu has instructed the army to accelerate the timetable for “taking control of the last terrorist strongholds and defeating Hamas.” Mediating officials said the plan closely resembles an earlier framework Israel had already accepted, with differences that “can be bridged within days.” 

Egypt on Sunday rejected reports that Israel was considering relocating Palestinians from Gaza, calling any such move “a heinous crime” and “a historical injustice with no moral or legal justification.” The Foreign Ministry said it had confirmed through contacts with other countries that they would not participate in such plans.

Cairo warned that displacement, whether forced or through conditions such as famine or settlement expansion, would amount to ethnic cleansing and violate international law. “Egypt will not accept it, will not participate in it, and will not permit it,” the ministry said.

Iran also denounced Israel’s actions, calling them “a clear instance of war crimes and crimes against humanity” supported by the United States and European governments.

On Saturday, Israel announced that residents of Gaza City would be relocated south. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 mass terrorist attack on Israel, Gaza health authorities report more than 61,000 Palestinians killed and 155,000 wounded.

The Israeli military on Sunday claimed responsibility for explosions near Yemen’s capital, saying its forces targeted energy facilities used by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike was carried out this morning by Israeli Navy missile boats against “energy infrastructure used by the Houthi terror regime” near Sanaa. A defense official confirmed the involvement of naval forces. 

The IDF said the action came in direct response to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, including missile and drone launches toward Israeli territory. “The strikes were conducted in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel and its citizens, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs toward Israeli territory,” the statement said. 

Since Israel’s last strike on Yemen on July 21, the Houthis have fired at least seven ballistic missiles and seven drones at Israel, according to the military. 

Houthi media earlier reported explosions at a power plant south of Sanaa, which knocked generators out of service and caused a fire. Al Masirah television, affiliated with the group, called the incident an act of “aggression,” though it did not name who was responsible. Residents described hearing at least two blasts, and civil defense teams were seen working to contain the flames. The blasts left parts of the city without electricity. 

The Houthis began targeting Israel and shipping routes a month after the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7. Israel has since launched multiple strikes on Yemeni targets, while the United States and Britain have also conducted attacks on Houthi positions. 

Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved the “core concept” for an extensive ground operation to capture Gaza City, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed. The plan could see 80,000 to 100,000 reservists mobilized under emergency orders, with operations expected to continue deep into 2026. 

Zamir’s early sign-off followed consultations with the General Staff Forum, Shin Bet, and senior commanders, reviewing recent fighting in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. Upcoming discussions will address urban combat tactics, including dealing with high-rise buildings and Hamas guerrilla units. 

Senior officers say the scale of the operation makes a large reservist call-up unavoidable, with planning also factoring in the West Bank olive harvest and upcoming holidays. Zamir had earlier advised a siege approach over full occupation, warning of risks to hostages and troops, but Defense Minister Israel Katz pressed for a decisive assault, citing Hamas’ refusal to release captives. 

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited military positions in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, outlining what he described as “a new strategic concept” to confront emerging threats. Military footage showed Zamir surveying the area with binoculars, meeting field commanders, and reviewing front-line defenses.

“We are on the offensive, constantly thwarting threats. We identify and eliminate threats in all arenas,” he said, adding that he had earlier approved plans to “conquer Gaza” before heading north. Zamir noted ongoing Israeli operations in Syria, Yemen, and the West Bank, alongside surveillance of developments in Iran.

Despite a November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah after 14 months of fighting, Zamir said Israeli forces have killed more than 240 members of armed groups and conducted around 600 strikes. Hezbollah has avoided major offensives under the truce but continues limited attacks, which it says respond to Israeli violations.

Saudi Arabia on Friday strongly condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, accusing the Israeli government of committing “crimes of starvation” and “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians in the war-torn enclave. 

In a statement posted by the Foreign Ministry on X, Riyadh denounced what it called “the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip” and “brutal practices” carried out against the Palestinian people. 

The statement marks one of the kingdom’s harshest criticisms of Israel since the war began and reflects growing regional frustration over the mounting civilian toll in Gaza. The condemnation follows Israel’s announcement of a renewed military push into Gaza City, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says is critical to defeating Hamas and rescuing hostages. 

Israel has rejected accusations of blocking aid or targeting civilians, instead blaming Hamas and logistical failures within the UN for delays in humanitarian deliveries. Officials in Jerusalem insist the goal remains the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, not harming civilians. 

Saudi Arabia’s statement is a notable shift from its usually cautious tone and comes as normalization talks between Riyadh and Jerusalem remain on hold. The kingdom has positioned itself as a defender of Palestinian rights and has grown increasingly vocal as conditions in Gaza worsen. 

While diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab states have warmed in recent years, the Gaza conflict has reignited tensions, with Saudi Arabia now joining a chorus of countries demanding restraint and humanitarian access. 

International aid organizations expressed shock and condemnation following the release of two disturbing videos showing Israeli hostages held by terrorist groups in Gaza.

On Sunday night, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was “appalled” by the footage, calling it “stark evidence” of the life-threatening conditions endured by the captives.

One video, released Thursday by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, showed Rom Braslavski lying in pain on the floor at an undisclosed location in Gaza. A second video released Friday by Hamas showed Evyatar David digging a trench inside a tunnel, and saying his captors told him it would be his own grave. Both men appeared emaciated.

“These harrowing videos are heartbreaking for families and violate international humanitarian law,” the ICRC said, calling for the hostages’ “immediate and unconditional” release. It also repeated its demand for access to the hostages, which has so far been denied.

On Monday, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed the call, urging that all hostages be treated humanely and granted access to food and medical care.

Hamas said it would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established, rejecting a core Israeli demand to end the war in Gaza.

The statement follows the collapse of indirect negotiations with Israel over a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal. Mediators Qatar and Egypt recently endorsed a French-Saudi proposal calling for a two-state solution and the transfer of Hamas’ weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, insisted it would not give up its “armed resistance” without full statehood. Israel, meanwhile, views Hamas disarmament as a precondition for any agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month dismissed calls for Palestinian statehood, warning it would become a “platform to destroy Israel.” He also criticized Western governments for recognizing a Palestinian state amid the war.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disrupted what appeared to be a Hamas attempt to abduct soldiers in Gaza, after drone surveillance and ground observers identified a group of armed terrorists lying in ambush along a commonly used IDF patrol route in Khan Yunis.

According to the IDF, approximately 13 Hamas fighters armed with Kalashnikov rifles and RPGs—were spotted near a known tunnel shaft in the area. Military assessments suggest the group may have been preparing to carry out a kidnapping, a tactic Hamas has used in the past to gain leverage in hostage negotiations.

The noise of the drone likely alerted the terrorists, who fled into the tunnel before Israeli forces could engage. However, the IDF, familiar with the tunnel’s structure and route, tracked their movements and prepared for a targeted strike to neutralize the threat.

The encounter came as Israeli troops continue to consolidate their hold on Khan Yunis. Forces have seized control of a strategic corridor that effectively bisects the city, enhancing the army’s mobility and ability to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.

In ongoing operations, troops uncovered a large weapons cache containing explosives, mortar shells, cluster grenades, and sniper rifles. Elsewhere in the city, Unit 504 and combat engineers apprehended several terrorists and discovered a tunnel extending hundreds of meters underground.

Meanwhile, the IDF’s elite 98th Division officially wrapped up its campaign in the Gaza Strip. The unit had conducted extensive operations in Gaza City’s Shuja’iyya and Zeitoun neighborhoods, and more recently in Khan Yunis.

The army has not yet confirmed which unit will replace the 98th Division. According to the IDF, over 1,500 terrorist targets were destroyed in northern Gaza, and dozens of Hamas operatives—including members of the Shuja’iyya Battalion involved in the October 7 massacre—were killed.

Military officials described the withdrawal as part of the broader operational timeline, signaling a new phase in Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military presence.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday it will implement daily “local tactical pauses” in military activity across parts of the Gaza Strip to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. The pauses will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in areas without active ground operations, including al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and parts of Gaza City.

The move comes as aid deliveries resumed from Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, amid growing concerns over starvation in Gaza. According to the IDF, the decision, coordinated with the United Nations and international organizations, is intended to “increase the scope of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.” Secure routes for aid convoys will also be open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s handling of the crisis, saying during a visit to Ramon Air Force Base, “There are secured convoys. There have been all along, but today it is official. There will be no more excuses.”

On Sunday, Egypt resumed truck deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing, sending more than 1,200 tons of food. Jordan and the UAE also airdropped 25 tons of supplies. Meanwhile, the IDF carried out its first airdrop of aid into Gaza since the war began.

Also on Sunday, IDF forces demolished a Hamas tunnel in Beit Hanoun. Four Israeli soldiers, including a senior commander, were wounded by an explosive in Rafah, and two were killed in Khan Yunis the previous day.

Roughly 166 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip overnight, according to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News, which cited an unnamed security official on Thursday.

The shipments, which included food staples, flour, and medical supplies, passed through the Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) and Zikim border crossings from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

The source emphasized Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to coordinate with international actors and increase the volume of aid entering the besieged coastal enclave.

“Egypt has been intensifying its efforts with all international parties to bring more aid into the Gaza Strip during the current period,” the source said.

Despite the latest shipment, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned this week that the hunger crisis has reached unprecedented levels. Aid groups on the ground describe widespread starvation and severe malnutrition among both aid recipients and humanitarian workers.

The worsening conditions follow Israel’s suspension of goods and supply entry into Gaza after the expiration of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas earlier this year. That truce, which was part of a phased deal reached in January, has since collapsed, leaving international mediators scrambling to revive negotiations.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas resumed earlier this month in Doha, Qatar, as part of a renewed push by global powers to broker a longer-term agreement and restore regular humanitarian access to the strip.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that it had eliminated Ahmad Muhammad Salah, a senior Hezbollah terrorist and head of the group’s Yohmor outpost in southern Lebanon, in a targeted airstrike. 

According to the IDF, Salah had been actively working to reestablish Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the Yohmor area, making him a key figure in the group’s ongoing operations near Israel’s northern border. 

The strike reportedly occurred in the Sharabik neighborhood of Yohmor, located in Lebanon’s Nabatieh district. The Lebanese Health Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center confirmed that one individual was killed in a drone strike targeting a motorcycle in the area. 

Earlier the same day, another Hezbollah terrorist, Mohammad Abdullah Al-Hadi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the town of Al-Khiyam. Al-Hadi was identified as a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces, a unit believed to be involved in cross-border infiltration planning and other high-risk operations. 

Though a ceasefire agreement has officially been in place since November 27, 2024, brokered by the United States and France to calm tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following the Gaza conflict, hostilities have not fully ceased. The IDF has continued to conduct selective operations inside Lebanon, which it says are designed to neutralize imminent threats posed by Hezbollah. 

The Israeli military maintains that its actions are defensive in nature and target individuals actively engaged in terrorist activities. Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the latest strikes. 

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday killed at least 34 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. The strikes hit multiple locations across the enclave, including sites in Gaza City, Jabalia, Khan Yunis, and central refugee camps.

A drone strike east of Gaza City struck the Holy Family Church, where around 600 displaced people had been sheltering. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said two were killed and seven wounded, including the parish priest. “The circumstances of the incident are under review,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

Elsewhere, eight people died in an attack on aid workers in the Sudaniya area, and a family of seven was killed in a strike on their home in Jabalia. Shelling was also reported near the Nuseirat and Bureij camps.

The Israeli army confirmed it intercepted two rockets fired from northern Gaza into southern Israel. No casualties or damage were reported in the rocket incident.

Iran has restored full international and domestic flight operations following last month’s conflict with Israel, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization announced Thursday. According to the agency, all airports are now operational, and the country’s airspace is open 24 hours a day for overflights.

Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, the main gateway for domestic flights, will operate daily from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Training and recreational flights remain suspended.

Iran had closed its airspace on June 13 after Israeli airstrikes targeted sites across the country. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24 after nearly two weeks of hostilities.

On July 3, Iran began a partial reopening, but airports in Tabriz and Isfahan remained closed due to wartime damage. Tabriz resumed operations on July 5, and Isfahan followed on Thursday.

The aviation agency said the reopening followed “precise security and safety assessments” and reflected current national conditions.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday urged Hamas to disarm and transfer control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Speaking in Amman with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Abbas said Hamas “will not rule the Gaza Strip” after the war, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. 

Abbas demanded a ceasefire, the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He called for Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip and voiced support for a two-state solution based on international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. 

He proposed convening an international peace conference in New York to revive negotiations. 

Abbas also condemned Israeli policies in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including settlement expansion and attacks on religious sites. 

Hamas seized Gaza from the PA in 2007. Despite Israeli objections, Abbas insists the PA must govern Gaza once the conflict ends, with backing from Arab states and the global community. 

Leah Mosquera, a 49-year-old caregiver from the Philippines, has died nearly a month after being critically injured in an Iranian missile strike on the Israeli city of Rehovot. The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed her death on Sunday, naming her as the 29th person killed during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June. 

Mosquera was hospitalized at Shamir Medical Center after the June 15 strike on a residential area, where she sustained life-threatening injuries. Her body will be returned to the Philippines for burial. 

The Israeli Embassy in the Philippines said Israel “shares the profound grief of her family and the Filipino community,” describing Mosquera as “a woman, a daughter, a devoted worker.” 

The war began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian targets. Iran responded with hundreds of missiles and drones, killing mostly civilians. A US-brokered ceasefire took effect on June 24. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting Sunday evening to discuss the progress of hostage negotiations currently underway in Doha, according to Israeli officials. A senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Israel had accepted a Qatari-mediated proposal for a hostage deal based on the Witkoff outline, while Hamas rejected the terms.

The official added that Israeli representatives in Doha were given full authority to engage in the talks and that negotiations had continued over the Sabbath with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. “Hamas rejected the Qatari proposal, is creating obstacles, refuses to compromise, and accompanies the talks with psychological warfare aimed at sabotaging the negotiations,” the official said.

A small group of Israeli ministers is expected to decide whether to move forward with presenting new maps in the discussions. Palestinian sources warned earlier that the talks were on the brink of collapse due to persistent disagreements

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week over ongoing negotiations with Hamas, accusing him of risking soldiers’ lives and undermining the objectives of the war in Gaza.

Ben Gvir described the talks as “reckless deals” that encourage Hamas to continue abductions. “The more the negotiations for reckless deals advance, the greater the motivation for Hamas to carry out more kidnappings,” he said. “Last night, it cost us the life of an IDF soldier.” He called on Netanyahu to halt all negotiations, emphasizing that the lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians in the south take precedence over any political or economic agreements. “Give the order to crush Hamas completely,” Ben Gvir said.

The criticism came after Master Sgt. Avraham Azulay was killed during a Hamas abduction attempt in southern Gaza. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas fighters emerged from a tunnel and tried to pull Azulay from his engineering vehicle during an operation to dismantle terror infrastructure. Azulay resisted and was fatally shot, while Israeli forces nearby killed several attackers and prevented the abduction.

Smotrich canceled scheduled meetings to hold consultations amid reports that Israel might withdraw from captured areas as part of a hostage deal. “If, God forbid, the reports are true … this would be a severe betrayal of the soldiers and the families who sacrificed what is most precious to them,” he said. He called withdrawing from these areas repeatedly “an illogical and immoral slap in the face.”

Both ministers also opposed sending humanitarian aid to northern Gaza and questioned the military’s handling of political directives in the ongoing campaign. At a recent cabinet meeting, Smotrich clashed with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir over these issues.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Monday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Defense Ministry are developing a proposal to build a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza on the ruins of Rafah. The plan would house about 600,000 Palestinians already displaced to the coastal Mawasi area, with the potential to eventually relocate the entire civilian population of Gaza—over 2 million people—into the zone.

Katz said those entering would be screened to prevent Hamas infiltration and that residents would not be permitted to leave. He also reiterated support for encouraging Palestinians to “voluntarily emigrate” from the Strip.

International groups, rather than the IDF, would manage the area, although Katz did not name specific partners. The announcement coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington, where President Donald Trump is pressing for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

“Gaza will no longer constitute a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Israel is preparing to send a team to Qatar on Sunday to negotiate a potential ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas, according to reports from Israeli state media. The move follows Hamas’ recent statement expressing readiness to engage in discussions over a new framework for ending the fighting in Gaza.

Hamas called its response to the proposal “positive” and signaled willingness to “immediately enter into a round of negotiations.” Israeli sources cited by Kan TV said the government views the reply as constructive. “There is something to work with,” one source reportedly said.

Channel 12 News also reported the planned delegation, quoting a senior Israeli official who said, “It is possible to reach an agreement. This opportunity should not be missed.” Still, the official cautioned about ongoing gaps between the sides and stressed the importance of managing expectations within Israel, “which is eager for an immediate deal.”

The current proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry announced Friday that it is prepared to rejoin the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, following repeated Israeli attacks in southern Syria. The update came after a phone call between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the two discussed reopening embassies, lifting sanctions, and regional security concerns.

The call included talks on Iran’s growing presence in Syria and the impact of recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian-linked sites. “Iran, despite its current preoccupations, will not stop trying to alter the balance of power inside Syria,” Rubio said.

Both sides agreed to establish a joint committee to address Syria’s chemical weapons file and reaffirmed cooperation against the Islamic State following a deadly church attack in Damascus.

Rubio said President Donald Trump is working to lift sanctions and repeal the Caesar Act, calling it a “historic shift” for Syria and the region.

Iran has officially halted its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following recent US airstrikes that targeted key nuclear sites, according to state media reports released Wednesday. President Masoud Pezeshkian has approved and enacted a law passed last month by Iran’s parliament that mandates the suspension of work with the United Nations’ nuclear oversight body.

The decision, which also received approval from the constitutional watchdog, appears to be Iran’s response to increased international pressure and recent conflict. The IAEA, headquartered in Vienna, has been monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities for years but has not yet issued a response to this latest development.

Implementation of the law now falls under the purview of the Supreme National Security Council. Although the council itself has not made a public statement, Pezeshkian, who heads the council, reportedly gave the directive to enforce the law. State television confirmed, “Masoud Pezeshkian promulgated the law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

Houthi forces in Yemen launched a missile toward Israel on Tuesday night, prompting air raid sirens across central and southern Israel before it was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, according to the military. No injuries were reported.

“The missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF,” the military said in a statement, confirming that warning systems were activated.

The Houthis, who say their attacks are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel. The group has stated it would halt operations if Israel ends its military campaign and blockade of Gaza. In response, Israel has targeted infrastructure in Yemen, including ports and airports.

Separately, the Israeli military reported intercepting two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip toward southern Israel on Tuesday evening. These incidents come during intensified Israeli operations in Gaza and renewed diplomatic calls for a ceasefire.

Following a US-brokered ceasefire that ended 12 days of hostilities between Israel and Iran, Mossad Director David Barnea said Wednesday that Israeli intelligence operations inside Iran would continue.

“We will be there, like we have been there,” Barnea said in a rare public video released by Mossad. The footage shows him addressing operatives at the agency’s operational headquarters just hours after the ceasefire was announced.

Barnea praised his agents’ role in recent covert operations against Iranian targets, calling Mossad’s actions “unimaginable.” He said the agency had worked “for months and years” to prepare for what he described as a critical moment in disrupting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“With accurate intelligence, advanced technologies, and unimaginable operational capabilities, we helped the air force disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, establish air superiority over Iran, and reduce the missile threat,” Barnea said. “This is how we ensured the security of Israeli citizens.”

He also extended thanks to the US Central Intelligence Agency for its “joint activity” with Mossad during the conflict.

On June 13, Israel launched a series of major airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, reportedly killing several senior commanders, scientists, and civilians. Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks that inflicted significant casualties and damage in Israel.

Israel has halted aid deliveries into Gaza amid allegations that Hamas is stealing humanitarian supplies, Channel 12 News reported Wednesday, citing a senior Israeli official.

The move follows an ultimatum from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who reportedly threatened to resign from the government unless immediate steps were taken to prevent aid from reaching Hamas. His demand appears to have prompted urgent action from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Shortly after Smotrich’s warning, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement ordering the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to present a plan within 48 hours to prevent Hamas from taking control of aid shipments.

“Following information received today indicating that Hamas is once again taking control of humanitarian aid … the prime minister and the defense minister have instructed the IDF to present an operational plan,” the statement read.

A video shared by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on social media showed Hamas operatives commandeering food trucks inside Gaza, further fueling public outrage. “Government ministers pledged that ‘not a single grain will enter,’ but as usual, reality is the opposite. Shameful,” Bennett wrote.

In northern Gaza, where the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) does not operate, aid is currently distributed by local clans and “security committees” linked to Hamas.

UN agencies such as the World Food Programme continue to operate but face increasing obstacles.

On Tuesday, GHF called on the UN to help reform the aid delivery system and protect humanitarian workers on the ground.

Iran’s parliament voted Wednesday to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, escalating tensions following recent attacks on its nuclear facilities. Lawmakers approved the measure in an open session in Tehran, with 221 votes in favor and one abstention, according to the legislature’s ICANA news agency.

The move comes in response to airstrikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear sites, which Tehran says violated its sovereignty. The plan instructs the government to end cooperation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement unless certain conditions are met. These include guarantees of Iran’s territorial integrity, protection for its nuclear facilities and scientists, and recognition of its right to enrich uranium.

Mohammad Nabavian, a member of parliament, said Iran remains committed to the NPT and maintains its nuclear program is peaceful.

The vote follows a violent escalation, including Israeli and US strikes on Iran and Iranian missile attacks on US and Israeli targets.

Ali Shadmani, the chief commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike last week, Iranian state-affiliated media reported on Wednesday. Shadmani had recently assumed the top post after replacing Gholam Ali Rashid.

The Israeli military previously claimed responsibility for the strike that targeted a command center in central Tehran, saying Shadmani was among those killed in the operation.

The June 13 attack was part of a wider Israeli campaign against multiple sites in Iran, including military facilities and nuclear infrastructure. The strikes reportedly killed several senior military leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel, causing deaths and widespread destruction. After nearly two weeks of escalating confrontation, a ceasefire between the two countries was declared on Tuesday.

Israeli forces retrieved the bodies of three hostages from Gaza during an overnight operation, the military announced on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces identified the victims as 71-year-old Ofra Keidar, 22-year-old Jonathan Samerano, and 19-year-old Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson—all of whom were killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and whose remains were taken into the enclave.

The recovery was carried out by the IDF’s Gaza Division, based on intelligence from the Hostages Headquarters, Military Intelligence Directorate, and the Shin Bet internal security agency. The bodies were transferred to the Abu Kabir forensic institute for identification, after which the families were informed.

Keidar was killed at her home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the attack. Samerano was among those who fled the Nova music festival and sought refuge in Be’eri, where he was killed and taken. Levinson, a tank commander, died in combat near the festival grounds while confronting Hamas gunmen.

“This was a successful operation,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will not rest until we return all of our abductees home, both the living and the dead.”

According to Israeli authorities, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, including the confirmed bodies of at least 28 individuals. Twenty are believed to be alive, while the status of two others is unclear. Hamas also continues to hold the body of an Israeli soldier killed during fighting in Gaza in 2014.

European foreign ministers met with Iran’s top diplomat Friday in a last-ditch effort to defuse the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, as US President Donald Trump signaled he would delay a decision on American military involvement for up to two weeks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany, known as the E3, alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

The diplomatic push follows Araghchi’s reported suggestion for a face-to-face meeting despite Tehran rejecting U.S. involvement until Israel halts its strikes.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said “a window now exists” for a deal, echoing President Trump’s statement Thursday that diplomacy remains an option.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Iranian missile attacks continue to escalate, with dozens killed. Iran has vowed no further negotiations unless the bombing stops, while the president’s special envoy maintains backchannel contact with Tehran amid mounting tensions.

US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether the United States will join Israel’s air campaign against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the White House said Thursday.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump is awaiting the outcome of diplomatic talks with Tehran before committing to military action.

The announcement marks a shift after days of mixed signals from the administration, including threats against Iran’s leadership and calls for diplomacy. The president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has held direct talks with Iran’s foreign minister, though no agreement has yet been reached.

Israel’s campaign, Operation Rising Lion, launched June 13, aims to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities and is expected to conclude within weeks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel could achieve its objectives alone but did not rule out US support. Critics, including Senator Chris Murphy, questioned Trump’s credibility, noting similar missed deadlines. Iran warned of a “harsh response” to any US military involvement.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, while surveying the damage from an Iranian missile that directly struck a building in Holon on Thursday, called Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “the modern Hitler” and declared that he “cannot continue to exist.”

Katz said eliminating Khamenei aligned with Israel’s goals in the war. “No question this man should not continue to exist,” he said.

Speaking to the media, Katz added, “A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of the State of Israel his declared goal—this horrific goal of destroying Israel—cannot be allowed to continue or materialize.”

Earlier that morning, Iranian missiles struck Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, injuring 71 people. Additional missiles hit Holon and Ramat Gan, wounding 89 others. By the afternoon, hospitals reported that 271 people were seeking treatment following the Iranian attack.

A senior member of Yemen’s Houthi movement announced Tuesday that the Iran-backed group will expand its military operations to support Iran in its conflict with Israel. Speaking on Al Jazeera Mubasher TV, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said the group is acting in coordination with Tehran, as it has previously done in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

“We will not hesitate to stand with the Islamic Republic of Iran as we stood with the Palestinian people,” al-Bukhaiti said.

The Houthis have launched multiple attacks on Israel since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, primarily using drones and missiles aimed at Israeli territory and shipping routes in the Red Sea. A recent ceasefire with the US brought an end to attacks on ships, but strikes on Israel continued.

The remarks come as tensions escalate across the region following Israeli strikes on Iranian territory and proxy forces.

Iran’s state broadcaster reported Monday that one of its facilities was struck in an Israeli airstrike, disrupting a live broadcast but leaving operations largely intact. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) called the attack a “brutal aggression” and said the strike targeted its news division.

Despite the damage, IRIB stated its team continued broadcasting “at full capacity.” The network aired footage showing an anchor delivering the news when a loud blast interrupted the program. The anchor reported the explosion and denounced the attack before a second blast and smoke forced the broadcast off-air. She later reappeared on screen and confirmed she was uninjured.

The strike came during a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran. On Friday, Israeli air raids killed several senior military officials, scientists, and civilians. Iran responded with missile attacks later that day, and exchanges between the two sides continued into the week.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi urged renewed global focus on Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its humanitarian toll during a phone conversation Sunday with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, according to a statement from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.

Safadi described the crisis in Gaza as a major factor contributing to regional instability and stressed that any serious effort to reduce tensions must address the situation there. His comments came as Gaza health authorities reported 65 deaths and more than 300 injuries from Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours.

The two ministers also discussed the need to de-escalate broader regional tensions and promote negotiations related to Iran’s nuclear program. They reiterated their support for diplomatic solutions and emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts.

Safadi and Tajani affirmed the strength of ties between Jordan and Italy and committed to deepening cooperation on regional and bilateral issues.

Israel carried out a naval strike early Tuesday on the port city of Hodeida in western Yemen, marking its first seaborne strike against the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The Israeli military said the attack targeted infrastructure used for weapons transfers after recent missile launches by the Houthis toward Israel. “Over the past year and a half, the Houthi terrorist regime has been aggressively operating under Iranian direction and funding in order to harm the state of Israel and its allies, undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of naval navigation,” the military said in its statement.

The Israeli navy, previously uninvolved in these strikes, used missile boats to hit sites in Hodeida and nearby ports after issuing warnings to civilians.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “We warned the Houthi terror organization that if they continue to fire at Israel they will face a powerful response and enter a naval and air blockade.”

Houthi official Nasruddin Amer dismissed the attack’s impact, writing, “It has no effect even on the morale of our people.”

Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza reported Tuesday morning that at least 17 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on their way to a food distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at individuals it viewed as threats several hundred meters from the aid site in the Netzarim Corridor, which had not yet opened. It said it was investigating the incident, noting that the number of casualties reported was inconsistent with “the information available.”

GHF, the US- and Israel-backed group responsible for aid distribution in Gaza, denied that incidents had occurred at the distribution points and urged Palestinians to use the designated access routes.

The GHF aid distribution system kicked off late last month after months of a near-total blockade on Gaza, which humanitarian groups said was causing famine-like conditions. The United Nations has refused to participate in the new aid system, calling it unworkable.

Israeli military recovers body of top Hamas commander from tunnel in southern Gaza

The Israeli military announced Sunday that it had retrieved the body of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas commander, from a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. Sinwar was killed along with Muhammad Shabaneh, commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade, in an Israeli and Shin Bet operation on May 13.

According to the military, the bodies were discovered during a raid launched Wednesday. “During searches in the underground tunnel route, several items belonging to Sinwar and Shabaneh were located, along with additional intelligence findings that were transferred for further investigation,” the military said.

Sinwar, 49, was a key figure in Hamas’ military leadership and is believed to have played a leading role in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader in Gaza, who was killed in October 2024.

Four people were killed and others injured by Israeli forces on Sunday as Palestinians making their way to an aid distribution site in the southern Gaza city of Rafah came under fire, according to Palestinian paramedics.

The Israeli military said in a statement that troops opened fire after directing warning shots at a group that was approaching soldiers before dawn and was deemed a threat. The statement added that the group had been verbally warned to leave the area, which was classified as an active military zone at the time. Non-daylight hours are considered a closed military period.

While the military acknowledged reports of injuries, it did not say how many people were believed to have been shot or wounded.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least 104 people were killed across Gaza in the past 24 hours, including five near humanitarian aid distribution centers in the southern and central parts of the territory.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it did not distribute aid on Saturday due to threats it claimed were made by Hamas, which the terrorist organization denied.

The group also did not distribute aid on Wednesday, citing Israel’s failure to secure areas outside the aid sites, and paused some distributions on Friday because of excessive crowding.

On Saturday, the Israeli military said 350 trucks carrying humanitarian aid from the United Nations and other international relief organizations had been transferred this week into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Israeli fighter jets struck targets in southern Syria overnight on Tuesday, hitting military sites in Quneitra and Daraa provinces in response to a projectile reportedly launched from western Daraa toward the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said explosions were heard in Quneitra, Izraa, and the surrounding areas, including Tel al-Mal and Tel al-Sha’ar. Among the targets was the Syrian army’s 175th Regiment base, along with other positions used by pro-regime and Iran-aligned forces.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the country “did not and will not pose a threat to any side in the region,” and accused unspecified groups of trying to destabilize southern Syria. It added that authorities are working to restore state control and disarm non-state actors.

Drone surveillance by Israel was also reported over the Yarmouk Basin, a zone known for harboring armed factions. This is believed to be the first projectile fire from southern Syria toward Israel since the Syrian regime’s collapse in December, according to the observatory.

Syria condemned the strikes as a “blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty” and urged the international community to hold Israel accountable. It warned that the attacks could escalate tensions at a time when restraint is critical.

Since January, Israel has reportedly conducted over 50 strikes in Syria, often targeting arms depots, command posts, and positions linked to Iran-backed fighters, as part of its broader campaign to limit Iran’s influence near its borders.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reported its largest single-day aid delivery on Saturday, distributing over 1.6 million meals to residents in Gaza through its Tal Sultan distribution site. The May 31 operation brought the total number of meals delivered since the effort began five days earlier to more than 3.8 million, according to a GHF press update.

GHF officials said that Saturday’s distribution was five times larger than the previous day, with 30 trucks delivering nearly 29,000 boxes of food. The operation proceeded without any security incidents, the group said.

Looking forward, GHF stated that it plans to expand its operations, including building additional aid sites in northern Gaza, pending government support. The foundation said it is testing and refining its delivery model to maximize reach while maintaining safety.

Interim Executive Director John Acree emphasized the group’s mission to deliver aid directly and without interference. “At the heart of our mission is a singular goal to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population by delivering critical aid swiftly, securely, and without diversion,” Acree said.

He also pushed back against what GHF described as false media reports, especially claims of chaos and deaths at distribution sites. GHF specifically named the Associated Press for allegedly publishing unverified accounts. “To reiterate, there have been no deaths at any GHF location during the first five days of operations,” the update stated.

The organization urged media outlets to verify third-party reports directly with its communications team.

A proposed ceasefire deal involving the release of hostages in Gaza is caught in a swirl of conflicting claims, as Hamas and the United States offer sharply different versions of what has been agreed to—and what has not. On Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement saying it had accepted a US-mediated framework that would include the release of 10 Israeli hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The group said the deal was discussed with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and includes a permanent ceasefire, Israeli military withdrawal, increased humanitarian aid, and the formation of a professional committee to govern Gaza.

But Witkoff quickly pushed back. Speaking to Axios, he said, “What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” adding that no new proposal had been presented to the group. According to Witkoff, Israel has agreed to a version of the plan involving a temporary truce and the release of hostages, which he described as a “path to a permanent ceasefire.” He said, “That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.”

A senior Israeli official said negotiations were handled via Palestinian American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who may have overstepped his mandate in talks with Hamas leaders in Doha. The official said Israel rejected the resulting proposal, especially clauses suggesting that a permanent ceasefire would automatically follow a 60-day truce without further negotiation.

The Prime Minister’s Office labeled the Hamas-announced deal “unacceptable,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video that updates on the hostage issue may come “today or tomorrow.”

The war, now in its eighth month, continues to exact a heavy toll, with international pressure building for a resolution—but little consensus on how to get there.

At least 33 Palestinians were killed, including 18 children and six women, when an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced families in southern Gaza early Monday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. The strike targeted the Fahmi Al-Jarjawi school, where families had sought refuge.

The Israeli army confirmed the strike, stating the building was being used as a “command and control compound” by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It said the operation used precision-guided weapons and aerial surveillance to limit civilian casualties.

The attack coincided with Israel’s evacuation orders to residents of Bani Suheila, Abasan, and Al-Qarara near Khan Yunis, ahead of what the army called an “unprecedented” assault. The move followed the firing of three rockets from Gaza into Israel, one of which was intercepted.

Since March 18, at least 3,822 Palestinians have been killed in the renewed offensive. The total death toll among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 now exceeds 53,900, with over 122,000 injured, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run government.

Israel’s military intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen on Sunday, marking the third such attack in four days and the fifth since last week. The missile, fired by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, the southern West Bank, and Dead Sea communities. Residents were alerted in advance via push notifications, and there were no reports of injuries or major damage.

A portion of the missile reportedly landed in the South Hebron Hills area of the West Bank. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the successful interception and attributed the launch to the Houthis, who have stepped up attacks on Israel since the IDF resumed operations against Hamas in Gaza on March 18.

Since then, the Houthis have launched at least 39 ballistic missiles and more than 10 drones at Israeli targets. While most have been intercepted or fallen short, a missile that struck near Ben Gurion Airport earlier this month injured six people and caused international airlines to briefly suspend flights to Israel.

The Houthis claim their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, though many of their earlier missile strikes targeted commercial vessels unrelated to the conflict. Their campaign began in November 2023, shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

In response, Israel has carried out airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure, including ports and airports in Al Hudaydah, Salif, and Sanaa.

Staff Sgt. Danilo Mocanu, a 20-year-old soldier from Holon, was killed on Tuesday during combat operations in the southern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military confirmed. Serving in the 82nd Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, Mocanu died when an explosive device detonated and caused the collapse of a building in Khan Yunis where his unit was operating. Another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident.

Preliminary findings indicated that standard reconnaissance, including drone and canine searches, detected no threats before the soldiers entered the building. The blast occurred on the upper floor, triggering the collapse.

Defense Minister Israel Katz offered condolences, calling Mocanu “a hero who fell in the line of duty.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country mourns alongside the bereaved families. Mocanu was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. He is the second Israeli soldier killed in the current phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

The Jordanian Armed Forces announced Tuesday that it had evacuated six Palestinian children from Gaza for cancer treatment in Jordan, along with 19 accompanying family members. The effort is part of the Jordanian Medical Corridor Initiative, which aims to treat 2,000 children from Gaza in Jordan and return them home after recovery.

According to the military, the children were transferred via the King Hussein Bridge in coordination with Jordan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. After crossing into Jordan, they were flown by Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft to Marka International Airport and then taken to the King Hussein Cancer Center for treatment.

Since the initiative began, 39 children and 75 relatives have been brought to Jordan for care. So far, 17 children and their families have returned to Gaza after completing their treatment.

The Petra state news agency said the latest transfer reinforces Jordan’s ongoing humanitarian support for Palestinians affected by the war.

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday issued a sweeping evacuation order for residents in and around the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, warning of an imminent “unprecedented attack” on the area as part of its ongoing offensive against Hamas.

The evacuation directive affects the entirety of Khan Yunis, as well as the surrounding suburbs of Bani Suheila and Abasan. It is the most extensive evacuation order since Israel began expanding its ground operations across the Gaza Strip.

“The IDF will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terror organizations in this area,” said IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee, calling the entire Khan Yunis area “a dangerous combat zone.”

Tens of thousands of civilians are believed to be residing in the affected area. The military instructed them to evacuate westward toward the coastal zone of Mawasi, which has previously been designated as a humanitarian corridor by Israeli authorities.

Leaders of 22 Arab nations gathered Saturday in Baghdad for the 34th Arab League Summit, where they called for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza and rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians. In a joint statement, the bloc urged the international community to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. The leaders backed Iraq’s proposal to create a fund for rebuilding Gaza.

The statement reaffirmed support for Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. It also condemned Israeli actions that “deprive [Palestinians] of their right to freedom, life, and human dignity.”

Arab leaders expressed support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for an international peace conference and the revival of the two-state solution. They also addressed regional crises in Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Libya, and condemned terrorism, particularly attacks by the Islamic State group.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Wednesday to comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron the day before, accusing him of spreading “blood libels” against Israel and siding with Hamas, following Macron’s condemnation of Israel’s Gaza policy.

Macron denounced Israel’s handling of humanitarian aid in Gaza as “unacceptable” and “shameful,” even suggesting that the European Union should consider imposing sanctions. His remarks recieved immediate backlash from the Israeli government.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu accused the French leader of “once again” echoing Hamas propaganda.

“Macron has once again chosen to side with a murderous Islamist terror organization and echo its false propaganda, while accusing Israel of blood libels,” the statement read.

The Prime Minister’s Office reiterated his position regarding Israel’s actions during ongoing war: “Israel is waging a multi-front battle for its existence following the horrific massacre carried out by Hamas against innocent civilians on October 7, including the murder and abduction of dozens of French citizens.”

“Instead of standing with the democratic Western camp fighting Islamist terror organizations and calling for the release of the hostages, Macron is once again demanding that Israel surrender and reward terrorism.”

At least 70 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in a wave of Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza health authorities, marking one of the deadliest days in recent weeks as US President Donald Trump visits the region.

The majority of casualties occurred in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, where medics said homes were flattened in a barrage of Israeli airstrikes. Among the dead were multiple women and children, health officials said.

The IDF confirmed on Wednesday that it carried out a targeted drone strike in southern Lebanon, killing a senior Hezbollah operative.

The strike took place in the town of Qaaqaait al-Jisr and specifically targeted a commander believed to have led Hezbollah’s forces in the nearby area of Qabrikha, according to an official IDF statement.

Hezbollah has yet to publicly confirm the death or comment on the incident.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Monday that it conducted a targeted strike on the European Hospital in southern Gaza, claiming it was aimed at a Hamas underground command center located beneath the medical facility.

According to defense sources to the Times of Israel, the operation specifically targeted Muhammad Sinwar, a top Hamas military commander and younger brother of former Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar is believed to have assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing following the death of top commander Muhammad Deif and the subsequent killing of his brother.

“The Hamas terror organization continues to use hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terror purposes, cynically and cruelly exploiting the civilian population in and around the hospital,” the IDF said in a statement.

The military added that it employed precision munitions, extensive aerial surveillance, and other intelligence tools to minimize civilian harm during the strike.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler met with families of the hostages still held in Gaza and expressed cautious optimism ahead of a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said Monday.

The two American officials are en route to Doha, where renewed talks—facilitated by Qatari mediators—are set to take place amid mounting pressure for a breakthrough.

Witkoff “assured the families that if he and Boehler didn’t believe there was a genuine chance for progress in negotiations, they wouldn’t be making the trip to Doha,” according to a Forum statement describing the nearly two-hour meeting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call Monday with freed hostage Edan Alexander and US envoy Steve Witkoff, celebrating the 21-year-old’s return from Hamas captivity while warning that Israel is prepared for renewed fighting if no broader hostage deal is reached.

In a video of the call released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Alexander, still recovering in an Israeli hospital, appears weak but expresses determination to heal. “Craziness, craziness, it’s unbelievable,” Alexander says. Asked how he feels, he responds: “I’m okay. Weak, but little by little, I’ll get back to what was before. It’s all a matter of time.”

Netanyahu commended Alexander’s resilience and praised the medical teams assisting in his recovery. “You really sound like you’re on the right track,” he told the former hostage, urging him to follow doctors’ orders.

Israeli military officials have begun logistical preparations to receive Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American soldier expected to be released by Hamas later today, according to an unnamed defense source quoted by several Hebrew-language outlets.

Channel 12 reports that a designated building at the Israel Defense Forces’ Re’im base has been readied for Alexander’s arrival. The base has previously served as a first point of contact for freed hostages, offering privacy and initial medical assessments before transport to a hospital.

Alexander, believed to be the only living American hostage still held in Gaza, was abducted during the October 7 attacks.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on Monday that the expected release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander is imminent, emphasizing that it will occur without Israel offering any concessions in return.

In a statement translated from Hebrew, the Prime Minister’s Office credited the pending release to “the vigorous policy that we have led with the backing of President Trump” and “the military pressure of IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip.”

The government clarified that Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire or to the release of Palestinian prisoners. Instead, it has permitted only a temporary safe corridor to facilitate Alexander’s extraction from the Gaza Strip.

A US-Israeli plan to distribute food in Gaza has been met with widespread opposition from Palestinians, who say the initiative lacks neutrality and undermines their dignity. The operation, announced by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, aims to feed 1.2 million people—around 60% of Gaza’s population—through four distribution centers run by a newly formed private foundation. The centers would be secured by US contractors and surrounded by Israeli military forces.

Displaced residents and local aid workers argue that introducing foreign contractors and military personnel into the process sends the wrong message and risks politicizing humanitarian assistance. Many say aid should be managed by established international organizations like the United Nations, not by those perceived as parties to the conflict.

Tensions around aid delivery have grown as Gaza’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. With Israel tightening its blockade in March, food and fuel shortages have worsened, driving up malnutrition rates and deepening public frustration.

International relief agencies have warned repeatedly against politicizing humanitarian aid, noting that existing mechanisms, though strained, have delivered food and medical supplies to civilians despite logistical challenges.

Local observers say that using non-neutral actors in aid delivery may backfire, fueling resentment and suspicion rather than trust. Many Gazans now see the plan as part of a broader attempt to exert foreign influence rather than a genuine response to urgent humanitarian needs.

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it struck more than 150 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past 72 hours, in what marks an intensifying phase of the military’s ongoing campaign against Hamas.

Targets included “terrorist cells, buildings used by terror groups, and critical infrastructure,” according to a military statement. The IDF did not provide details on the precise locations of the strikes, but said many were concentrated in central and southern Gaza.

Among those killed was senior Hamas operative Nasser Juma, who the IDF identified as a veteran member of the group’s rocket production unit. Juma was targeted in a drone strike on Wednesday in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza, the military said.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claimed nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in the past three days.

Israel will launch an expanded military operation in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas, securing the release of hostages, and maintaining permanent control over captured areas, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday. The operation was approved earlier this week by Israel’s Security Cabinet, and Katz made his comments during a planning session with senior commanders.

“We will act with full force and will not stop until all objectives are achieved, including the voluntary emigration plan for Gaza residents,” Katz said. He added that Israel Defense Forces troops would remain in any areas they seize, signaling a shift toward long-term presence inside the enclave.

The minister said Israel is offering a short window for a potential hostage deal, tied to the so-called Witkoff plan, before US President Donald Trump’s regional visit from May 13 to 16. Named for US envoy Steve Witkoff and introduced in early March by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the plan envisions a 50-day ceasefire and renewed talks toward a longer truce. It includes the phased release of Israeli hostages but does not provide for the release of Palestinian prisoners or the withdrawal of Israeli forces—two central Hamas demands.

Katz confirmed that even if a deal is reached, “Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone,” referring to land inside Gaza that Israeli forces currently hold.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of growing international concern over Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, as aid access remains blocked and fears of famine escalate.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has strongly criticized Israel’s proposed new system for distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza, calling it inadequate to address the growing hunger crisis. On Tuesday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said, “The manmade and politically motivated starvation in Gaza is an expression of absolute cruelty,” adding that “it cannot be addressed by weaponizing humanitarian assistance.”

Since March 2, Israel has blocked goods and supplies from entering Gaza, following the end of the initial phase of a ceasefire with Hamas. The United Nations has warned of worsening food insecurity, particularly for children. According to a recent UN statement, Israeli authorities are seeking to reroute aid through military-run distribution hubs instead of letting UN agencies and aid groups manage deliveries. UNRWA argues this undermines the humanitarian principles of neutrality and independent access for all in need.

Airstrikes were reported late Monday night in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, according to several local media outlets. The strikes, which targeted sites near the coast, were quickly attributed by Yemeni sources to Israel.

The timing of the reported attack is notable, coming just one day after the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen fired a ballistic missile that struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring several civilians and temporarily halting flights.  consultations, including discussions of possible retaliatory options.

Israel will not pull out of the Gaza Strip even if another hostage deal is reached, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Sunday, declaring that Israel is “finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip” and calling on the public to stop fearing the word “occupation.”

Speaking at a conference organized by the right-wing Besheva newspaper, Smotrich told journalist Amit Segal of Channel 12 that Israel must maintain its military presence in Gaza regardless of future diplomatic or hostage negotiations.

“We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation,’” said Smotrich, a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

He insisted that Israel’s military operation should include full control over humanitarian aid to prevent resources from reaching Hamas. “We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the Strip, returning the hostages — and defeating Hamas,” he said.

Yemen’s Houthi group announced Sunday it would escalate attacks on Israeli airports, declaring a “comprehensive air blockade” targeting aviation infrastructure, especially Ben Gurion Airport. The statement followed a missile strike that struck a roadway near the main terminal in central Israel, injuring four people and damaging vehicles. Israeli air defense systems failed to intercept the projectile, which the military attributed to a technical malfunction.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group aims to force international airlines to cancel flights to Israel. “We will work to impose the blockade by repeatedly targeting airports, most notably Ben Gurion Airport,” he said on al-Masirah TV.

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation against the Houthis and their ally Iran. Several European carriers suspended flights following the incident. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, have launched frequent attacks against Israel since November, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza as their justification.

Organizers of a “Freedom Flotilla” attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip allege that their ship was struck twice by a drone in international waters overnight, sparking a fire and causing significant structural damage. The vessel, now reportedly sinking, is said to be carrying 30 pro-Palestinian activists.

The group has not directly accused Israel or any other party of carrying out the strike. However, the mission was organized under a media blackout, which the coalition said was intended to “limit Israeli sabotage,” implying concern over potential interference by Israeli forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that 18 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting the wildfires that have ravaged areas west of Jerusalem over the past two days.

The fires, which have forced widespread evacuations and destroyed thousands of acres of forest and farmland, are still burning in several locations.

Speaking at the annual Bible Contest in Jerusalem, Netanyahu stated that one of the suspects was apprehended in the act of committing arson: “There is harm to nature and also harm to people, and we’re holding 18 people at the moment who are suspected of arson—one of whom was caught in the act.”

“We’re doing everything we can to thwart the fire and rehabilitate what was destroyed.”

​Israel has confirmed conducting an airstrike on April 30 in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, a town southwest of Damascus, targeting what it described as an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze community. The strike followed days of sectarian violence in the region, which reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation was a “warning” to the Syrian regime, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to protecting the Druze minority.​

Syrian state media reported injuries among civilians, including members of the Druze community, due to the airstrike. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that at least 39 people had been killed in recent sectarian clashes in areas including Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. The violence was reportedly sparked by the circulation of an audio recording, allegedly from a Druze individual, containing remarks considered offensive to Islam.​

In response to the escalating violence, Syrian forces, supported by allied paramilitary units, launched operations to secure Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, conducting searches and sealing off the town’s entrances and exits. A ceasefire was later brokered by Druze leaders and government officials, aiming to restore calm to the area.

Israel on Tuesday released Asaad al-Nsasrah, a Palestinian medic detained since March, following a deadly incident in which Israeli forces killed 15 rescue workers in southern Gaza and buried them in a mass grave. Al-Nsasrah, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, was among 10 detainees freed and returned to Gaza.

His detention followed a March 23 Israeli operation that left eight Palestinian Red Crescent medics, six Civil Defense personnel, and one United Nations staff member dead. The victims were reportedly killed while responding to emergencies, and their bodies—along with their destroyed ambulances—were bulldozed and buried by Israeli troops. International rescue teams reached the site nearly a week later to recover the remains.

The Red Crescent confirmed al-Nsasrah’s release, while Israeli authorities provided no public comment on the circumstances of his detention. Other detainees returned alongside him were taken to Aqsa Hospital for medical evaluations. Some reported being held for five to six months.

Palestinians released from Israeli custody have said they were instructed not to speak to the media and feared retaliation or re-arrest. Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the lack of due process in many arrests carried out during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer led a delegation in Cairo on Monday for talks with Egyptian officials about a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza, according to Egyptian sources. Egypt’s latest plan calls for a six-month truce in exchange for the release of half the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The new offer comes after Israel rejected an earlier Egyptian initiative proposing a five-year ceasefire and the release of all hostages. Egyptian officials say the latest plan includes a phased Israeli military withdrawal and steps for Gaza’s reconstruction.

The meeting, hosted by Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, follows recent discussions between Egypt and a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas reportedly agreed to the earlier five-year deal, which Israel declined.

Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza on March 18 after accusing Hamas of rejecting an extension of the first phase of a January truce. Indirect talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US remain ongoing.

Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Sunday targeting a building in the Hadath area of Beirut’s southern suburbs, claiming it housed precision missiles stored by Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the missiles posed a “significant threat” to Israel’s security.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes fired three missiles, destroying a hangar and damaging nearby buildings and vehicles. No casualties have been confirmed.

Before the strike, Israeli Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents to evacuate the area. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, urging the United States and France to pressure Israel to halt its operations and warning of regional instability.

The strike comes despite a ceasefire declared on Nov. 27, 2024, intended to end cross-border fighting. Lebanese officials say Israeli strikes have killed 149 people since the truce, including 71 civilians.

Late Saturday night, Yemen’s Houthi rebel movement announced it had fired a missile toward Israel’s Nevatim air base in the Negev Desert.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group “targeted a key Zionist military installation” in retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Shortly afterward, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that an anti‐ship missile launched from Yemen was detected over the southern Negev. “Air defenses successfully intercepted the projectile before it entered Israeli airspace,” an IDF statement said.

Sirens sounded across the Arava region and along the Dead Sea, prompting brief civilian evacuations to nearby shelters. No damage or casualties were reported on the Israeli side.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Thursday that Master Sgt. Asaf Cafri, 26, a tank driver in the 79th Battalion of the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade, was killed by sniper fire near Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

Three other soldiers were wounded in the same engagement: a reservist from the 79th Battalion and an officer in the Yahalom combat engineering unit suffered serious injuries from anti-tank rounds, while a reservist from the Gaza Division’s 8239th Battalion was moderately hurt.

According to an initial IDF investigation, Cafri was struck as his unit operated close to an Israeli-held buffer-zone post. The cell responsible opened fire and then slipped away before troops could mount a pursuit. Cafri, of Beit Hashmonai, is the second soldier killed in the renewed northern Gaza offensive; Warrant Officer G’haleb Sliman Alnasasra was fatally wounded by a roadside bomb on April 19.

An Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp struck a joint Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad command center, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced.

According to Israeli military sources, the facility—formerly Jabalia’s police station—was used by terrorists to plan and coordinate attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Palestinian media confirmed the target and reported that at least nine individuals were killed, though their identities have not yet been independently verified.

In a statement, the IDF said it employed a “precision munition, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence” to minimize civilian casualties. “The terror organizations systematically violate international law while taking over civilian infrastructure and brutally exploiting the civilian population as a human shield for their terror attacks.”

Arnon Bar-David, chair of Israel’s powerful Histadrut Labor Federation, has warned he will not hesitate to call a third nationwide strike should the government refuse to comply with High Court of Justice decisions he says are crucial to preserving democracy.

In a Thursday interview with Maariv, Bar-David said his “red line” is the government’s failure to adhere to court rulings, a scenario he believes would lead the country toward “anarchy.” He insisted that while he won’t threaten strikes over every disagreement, he has already used the strike weapon twice when he judged democracy to be under existential threat.

“Democracy is still in danger and under attack every day, and the justice system and the security establishment are those who suffer the blows,” Bar-David said, citing recent clashes between ministers and both the Shin Bet and the Attorney General. “If this happens, we will head toward anarchy. If needed—I won’t hesitate to announce a strike.”

Since the hard-line government took office, the Histadrut has staged two general strikes: one in March 2023 during mass protests over the brief firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and another in September over the government’s failure to secure a comprehensive hostage-release deal after militants in Gaza killed six captives.

In a new propaganda push, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, on Tuesday released a video showing Israeli captive Omri Miran.

Miran was abducted from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, and previously appeared in a similar video in April.

Following the most recent temporary ceasefire and partial hostage releases, Miran’s family received word from freed captives who had been held alongside him as recently as July that he remains alive.

Under Israeli media ethics rules, broadcasters and newspapers have withheld sharing footage or still frames from Hamas’s video without the explicit consent of Miran’s family.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wendesday called on Hamas to release its Israeli and American hostages, denouncing the ongoing Gaza offensive as a “war of extermination” and accusing the group of providing Israel with a pretext to continue its campaign.

Speaking at the opening of the PLO Central Council meeting in Ramallah, Abbas demanded an immediate halt to the bombardment he said was killing “hundreds every day.” “The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza,” he said. “Why don’t you hand over the American hostages?”

Addressing Hamas directly, Abbas lashed out: “You sons of dogs—release those you’re holding and put an end to this story. Shut down their excuses. End it.”

Abbas also warned against what he called a “new Nakba,” accusing Israel of seeking to uproot Gaza residents from their homes. “We reject this. It’s an inseparable part of our land—what’s happening in Gaza is also happening in Jenin, everywhere.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is the one who is ultimately responsible” for Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war—and warned that if the government does not occupy the territory and install a temporary military administration, “this government has no right to exist.”

Smotrich’s remarks followed a heated exchange in Sunday’s security cabinet meeting between Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir over the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Katz argued that Israel would have to restart aid shipments within the next week or two, while ensuring none of the supplies reached Hamas. Zamir responded that the military could not be tasked with distributing civilian aid.

“The army does not choose its missions,” Smotrich reportedly shot back, insisting that the IDF must oversee aid distribution to prevent goods from falling into Hamas’s hands. He reiterated that “managing the civilian effort in Gaza in a way that does not fall into the hands of Hamas was and remains the most critical component for defeating Hamas and winning the war.”

Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, said he had secured an explicit cabinet decision last year instructing the IDF on the issue, but accused Netanyahu of failing to enforce policy implementation, adding, “I have no complaints about the chief of staff. My criticism is of the prime minister.”

Egypt has assumed a leading role in the ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to reports from The Times of Israel citing an official familiar with the deliberations.

The move came at the urging of both Israel and the Trump administration, who favored Egypt’s involvement over Qatar, believing Cairo can exert greater pressure on Hamas to agree to terms that would secure a deal.

An Israeli drone strike killed Hussein Atawi, a senior commander of the group Jama’a Islamiya, near the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, the group confirmed in a statement.

Atawi, a high-ranking figure in the group’s armed wing known as the Fajr Forces, was targeted as he drove from his home to his office in Beirut. The Fajr Forces had previously launched rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon during the year-long conflict that concluded last year with a ceasefire agreement.

Israeli airstrikes have continued sporadically in Lebanon since the ceasefire, primarily targeting Hezbollah fighters and weapons caches. Israeli forces also maintain positions on five strategic hills in southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Sunday that a senior Hezbollah commander, Hussein Ali Nasr, was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad, a town located between Sidon and Tyre in southern Lebanon.

Nasr served as the deputy chief of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, a division responsible for smuggling weapons and funds into Lebanon to rebuild the terror group’s military capabilities, the IDF said in a statement.

According to the military, Nasr played a central role in coordinating smuggling operations in cooperation with Iran. This included moving arms and cash through the Beirut airport with the help of airport workers allegedly operating covertly on Hezbollah’s behalf. The IDF also said Nasr was involved in procurement deals with arms smugglers along the Syria-Lebanon border and oversaw key elements of Hezbollah’s military build-up.

Lebanon’s military says it has prevented the first attempted rocket strike on Israel since last November’s Egypt‑brokered ceasefire formally paused more than a year of cross‑border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.

In a statement on Sunday, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) said troops raided an apartment on the outskirts of the southern port city of Sidon, seizing several rockets and launch pads and arresting a number of individuals involved in the plot.

Newly-appointed US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited Jerusalem’s Western Wall on Friday, just one day after arriving in the country to officially begin his diplomatic posting.

Huckabee placed a handwritten note from President Donald Trump into a crevice of the ancient structure, continuing a longstanding tradition at Judaism’s holiest site. “He wrote that with his own hand last Thursday and he sent me to place it here,” Huckabee told reporters. “So I do so with the best wishes of the president.”

Footage of the moment showed Huckabee solemnly inserting the note into the wall as he stood alongside Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the official rabbi of the Western Wall. “I can think of nothing I’d rather do than represent a prayer from the President of the United States on behalf of the American people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” Huckabee added.

The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel, is a sacred site where visitors frequently insert personal prayers and messages into the stones. Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and longtime political ally of Trump, has visited the wall before—but this marks his first official visit as ambassador.

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced on Wednesday that Yahya Fathi Abd al-Qader Abu Shaar, the head of Hamas’s smuggling unit, was killed in a precision airstrike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis on Tuesday.

Abu Shaar had been responsible in recent years for facilitating the flow of weapons and military equipment into Gaza, materials the IDF says were used extensively by Hamas, including during its deadly October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel.

The IDF released footage of the airstrike, stating that the operation was conducted using a precision munition, guided by aerial surveillance and additional intelligence to reduce civilian harm.

MK Tzvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism) ascended the Temple Mount on Wednesday and openly recited Jewish prayers, declaring the moment proof of a “tremendous change” in long‑standing limitations at the flash‑point holy site.

Video posted by Sukkot shows the lawmaker bowing and prostrating himself on the esplanade—Judaism’s holiest site and Islam’s third holiest—despite the status quo understanding that bars overt Jewish worship there. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government insists no formal policy has changed, quiet Jewish prayer has increasingly been tolerated in recent years by police stationed at the compound.

“Fourteen years ago, I tried to pray here and was immediately arrested. Today, Jews are prostrating, praying with a minyan; the Waqf doesn’t approach us. I see this with tears in my eyes,” Sukkot told reporters after the visit, referring to the group of 10 men required for male prayer within Orthodoxy.

Sukkot said he offered prayers for Israel Defense Forces troops fighting in Gaza and for the return of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas announced Tuesday that it has lost contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, an American Israeli hostage, after an Israeli airstrike targeted their location in Gaza. According to Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the group’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, attempts are underway to regain communication with the captors.

“It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve itself from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people,” the statement claimed.

Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces reported that a joint operation with the Shin Bet security agency killed Muhammad al-‘Ajlah, a Hamas commander in Gaza’s Shuja’iyya battalion. Al-‘Ajlah had previously led a combat support company and was said to be involved in arming fighters.

The Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee announced it will hold a public discussion on Sunday to address issues of “selective enforcement” following today’s reports of sensitive details from a classified leaks affair and the recent arrest of a Shin Bet official.

The hearing, chaired by Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman, will focus on concerns regarding leaks, the impact on journalistic freedom, and the right of investigators and Shin Bet officials to consult with legal counsel.

Rothman has invited a group to attend: Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, State Prosecutor Amit Aisman, Israel Police Commissioner David Levy, and Deputy Commissioner Boaz Balat, who heads the police’s Investigations and Intelligence Department.

Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar is expected to step down in the coming weeks, according to a report aired Sunday night on Israel’s Channel 12, citing several recent conversations Bar has had with close associates.

The development follows the High Court of Justice’s interim injunction issued last week, which blocked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unprecedented attempt to fire Bar and ordered both the government and the attorney general to reach a compromise by April 20. The court also ruled that Bar must remain in office until further notice.

Despite the legal reprieve, Channel 12 reports that Bar has expressed deep concern that the continued political turmoil surrounding his position is inflicting lasting harm on the Shin Bet. He reportedly plans to inform the court of his resignation and its effective date in a formal brief expected next week.

Bar’s ouster—announced by Netanyahu in March—would mark the first time in Israeli history that a Shin Bet chief has been dismissed by the government. Netanyahu cited a loss of confidence in Bar, stemming from the agency’s failure to prevent Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which claimed more than 1,200 lives and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

However, critics contend that Netanyahu’s move to fire Bar is tainted by a conflict of interest, given that the Shin Bet is currently investigating allegations that some of the prime minister’s close aides conducted public relations work for Qatar while serving in official roles.

Following the capture of the Morag Corridor—the strategic stretch between southern Gaza’s Rafah and Khan Yunis—by the Israel Defense Forces, Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued an urgent call for Palestinians to “remove Hamas and release all the hostages” before the military expands its operations in the Gaza Strip.

“The IDF has now completed the capture of the Morag Corridor, which divides Gaza between Rafah and Khan Yonis, making the area between the Philadelphi Corridor and Morag part of our security zone,” Katz said in a statement. He warned that intensive military activity was imminent, stating, “Intensive IDF activity will soon expand to additional places in most of Gaza, and you will have to evacuate the combat zones.”

Katz further criticized Hamas by asserting that “Hamas is unable to protect the residents or the territory. Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families, and in luxury hotels abroad with billions in their bank accounts and are using you as hostages.” He stressed that the only way to end the ongoing conflict is for Hamas to be removed and for all Israeli hostages to be freed, declaring, “This is the final moment to remove Hamas and release the hostages and bring about an end to the war.”

The Israeli Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced that an airstrike in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City yesterday killed Haitham Razek Abd al-Karim Sheikh Khalil, the commander of Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion.

Khalil, who led the notorious attack on Nahal Oz during the October 7 onslaught, is now the fourth battalion commander to be eliminated by the IDF during the current war.

According to the IDF, the strike targeted a Hamas command center located approximately one kilometer from Israeli troops operating in the area. “Several Hamas terrorists operated at the site to plan and execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops,” a military spokesperson stated.

Khalil was identified as the mastermind behind the infiltration into Nahal Oz and the planning of various attacks against IDF forces in Gaza.

The airstrike reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 Palestinians.

After Israel’s Air Force chief announced plans to dismiss any active reservists who signed a letter criticizing the ongoing war against Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly supported the decision. In a statement, Netanyahu declared, “Refusal to serve is refusal to serve, even if it’s only hinted at in whitewashed language. Statements that weaken the IDF and strengthen our enemies in a time of war are unforgivable.”

The letter, signed by a group of reservists, demanded that the government prioritize freeing hostages—even at the cost of ending the war with Hamas immediately—claiming that current military operations were politically motivated. Netanyahu, however, dismissed their objections, asserting that the signatories are “a group of fringe extremists” intent on undermining Israeli society. He argued that these dissenters have attempted similar tactics before October 7 and that such actions only signal weakness to adversaries.

An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday in the southern Gaza city of Rafah’s Shejaia neighborhood reportedly killed at least 29 Palestinians, including children, according to local health authorities. The attack targeted a multi-floor residential building, and medics confirmed that dozens were wounded, with many still reported missing and trapped under the rubble.

The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at a senior Hamas terrorist who was responsible for planning and executing attacks from the area, asserting that measures were taken to mitigate civilian casualties. The military added that the attack was part of a broader effort to combat militants operating in Gaza.

Local health authorities, however, reported that nine additional Palestinians were killed in separate strikes elsewhere in the enclave, pushing the day’s death toll to 38. The incident follows a week during which the Israeli military ordered residents in the area to evacuate, as part of an effort to create security zones in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the court at his corruption trial on Monday, to conclude his testimony early, citing exhaustion after an overnight flight back to Israel from Washington.

His defense attorney, Amit Hadad, testified that the prime minister was “very tired” as he had not slept the previous night.

Hadad added that it was not in the court’s interest for a person to testify in such a “bleary-eyed” state. The court granted Netanyahu’s request, ending the session early.

The Israeli Defense Forces released the schedule of former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, detailing his meetings following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The release, which marks the first time an IDF chief of staff’s diary has been disclosed under Israel’s Freedom of Information Law, came after a lengthy fight by nonprofit Hatzlacha – For the Advancement of a Fair Society.

The FOI petition, filed in February 2024, specifically requested Halevi’s administrative diary from October 2023 onward. After more than a year of silence, the IDF ultimately provided partial entries for the last three months of 2023, notably omitting any mention of meetings with journalists despite explicit requests to include such details. The IDF explained that the initial shock from Hamas’ onslaught led to incomplete documentation.

According to the published schedule, Halevi held his first meeting on October 7 at 7:00 a.m., just 30 minutes after the initial Hamas attack, to conduct a situational assessment. Later that morning, he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 9:45 a.m. Additionally, the diary shows that Halevi held a security briefing on the evening of October 5—only 36 hours prior to the onset of the war.

A significant minority of Jewish Israelis believe their government should defy a potential High Court ruling overturning the firing of Shin Bet security chief Ronen Bar, a new survey published by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) revealed on Tuesday.

The poll, which surveyed nearly 750 Hebrew and Arabic-speaking Israelis over the past week, shows that 36% of Jewish Israelis oppose obeying a possible High Court decision to reinstate Bar. Conversely, 54% believe the court’s ruling should be obeyed. Among Arab Israelis, support for complying with the court is considerably higher, with 71% in favor of obedience versus just 8% against.

The results also deep ideological divides: 96.5% of left-wing respondents support obeying a High Court ruling, compared to just 32% among right-wing respondents. The IDI noted that, according to voting patterns from the 2022 Knesset elections, no right-wing political party currently has a majority favoring compliance with the High Court.

The Israel Defense Forces dismantled a platoon of reservists and dismissed several officers for engaging in acts of vandalism during a counter-terror raid in the Deheisha refugee camp near Bethlehem last week.

According to the IDF, during the operation on April 2, soldiers exceeded authorized procedures by graffitiing slogans on camp buildings and vandalizing military equipment. The IDF described the actions as “grave,” noting that they contradicted the professionalism and values expected of its soldiers.

The operation was swiftly halted, and the illicit graffiti was covered up. Brigadier General Yaki Dolf, commander of the West Bank division, along with Colonel Gal Rich, commander of the Etzion Regional Brigade, launched an internal investigation into the incident. The findings were subsequently handed over to IDF Central Command Major General Avi Bluth, who stated, “This grave incident contradicts the level of professionalism and values expected of IDF soldiers.”

Likud party spokesman Guy Levy has vowed to push through a long-delayed bill regulating ultra-Orthodox military enlistment, asserting that “the army needs more soldiers but we are not willing to give up on the Torah world and Torah learners.”

Speaking on Radio Kol Barama, Levy said that while his party is championing the needs of the ultra-Orthodox community—even amid complaints that they are “fighting for the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) public more than for our own public”—Likud’s goal is to pass a “real enlistment law” that will ultimately increase the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Ultra-Orthodox leadership currently staunchly opposes military service for their young men, fearing that such service could lead to secularization. Data presented to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee reveal that nearly all ultra-Orthodox men called up for service in recent months have declined to serve. Out of 10,000 initial draft orders issued between July 2024 and March 2025, only 205 ultra-Orthodox have enlisted. In total, only 1,721 ultra-Orthodox men have joined the army since the current recruitment cycle began, leaving approximately 66,000 eligible ultra-Orthodox men aged 18 to 24 yet to enlist.

Following revelations that police are investigating Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Zvika Klein on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent as part of the “Qatargate” affair, several lawmakers have called for an urgent parliamentary hearing. Likud MK Amit Halevi demanded a review of what he termed “the arrest of the editor of a major newspaper in Israel,” highlighting growing concerns over press freedom.

In a letter to Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) Halevi described the incident as “no small matter.” Halevi pointed to reports that Klein’s phone was seized without a warrant, arguing that such measures require strict oversight to ensure they do not violate journalists’ rights.

Klein was questioned under caution on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged unlawful ties between Netanyahu’s senior aides and Qatar. Following the questioning, he was placed under five days of house arrest. A police source informed Haaretz that the necessary clearance had been obtained from the State Attorney’s Office to question Klein as part of the probe.

This development comes amid the broader Qatargate scandal, which has enveloped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle. Critics argue that the investigation is part of a politically motivated campaign aimed at undermining the prime minister’s authority. Concurrently, Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition is pushing forward several legislative proposals that critics say could further restrict press freedom, including bills targeting Army Radio and national broadcaster Kan.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on Tuesday, sparking fresh controversy within the Israeli government coalition over the sensitive religious site, following nearly two weeks during Ramadan when access had been restricted to non-Muslims.

Ben Gvir’s visit drew immediate criticism from within the governing coalition. Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) publicly condemned the visit, calling it “an attack on the sanctity of the holiest place for the Jewish people and on the status quo.”

Tagging Ben Gvir directly in his message, Gafni tweeted: “This visit does not demonstrate sovereignty; on the contrary, it constitutes desecration of holiness and causes unnecessary incitement in the Muslim world,” and appealed to the minister to “stop ascending the Temple Mount.”

Many ultra-Orthodox Jews consider ascending the Temple Mount to be religiously forbidden due to the site’s sanctity. Ben Gvir, however, has repeatedly publicized his visits to the site since becoming minister in December 2022, declaring support for expanded Jewish access and prayer rights on the Temple Mount.

The Temple Mount, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, is Judaism’s holiest site as the location of the two biblical temples. Known as the Noble Sanctuary in Islam, it houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site. Changes to the sensitive status quo at the location have historically triggered tensions and violence.

While Jewish prayer at the site is officially banned, Israeli police, under the authority of Ben Gvir’s ministry, have increasingly permitted limited prayer, drawing international criticism and warnings from Israel’s own security establishment about the potential for conflict.

Lebanese leaders have condemned an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in southern Beirut, with both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam calling it a serious escalation. The strike, launched early Tuesday morning, killed three and injured seven others, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Aoun decried the strike as a “dangerous warning,” urging international support for Lebanon’s sovereignty. He emphasized the need for greater global efforts to defend the country’s territorial integrity against Israeli actions.

Salam described the attack as a violation of the ceasefire that ended over a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, labeling it a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between the two sides.

Israel, however, justified the strike, claiming it targeted a Hezbollah operative involved in directing Hamas fighters, whom they said posed an immediate threat to Israeli civilians. The strike has heightened tensions in the region.

Roughly 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem on Monday for anti-government and pro-hostage deal rallies, leading to the arrest of 12 protesters amid clashes with police. This comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was summoned by police for questioning over his aides’ alleged ties to Qatar and two aides were taken into custody earlier in the day.

Additionally, the demonstrations come following government’s advancedment of controversial legislation aimed at overhauling the judiciary after moving to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Critics say these measures, alongside the resumption of fighting in Gaza where 59 hostages remain, highlight a broader trend of governmental overreach.

Among those detained was the cousin of freed hostage Arbel Yehoud, who was reportedly violently arrested after cursing a police officer for allowing a counter-protester into a restricted area. Additionally, two protesters were detained for blocking traffic on Begin Highway, holding a banner that read, “What about the hostages?”

Protesters voiced their anguish over the continuing conflict, with Merav Svirsky, whose brother Itay was killed in captivity, condemning the government for sacrificing hostages: “I am here to cry out that right now, 59 men and women—24 of whom are still alive—are being sacrificed to their deaths by a criminal government.”

Multiple members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have condemned his choice of former Navy commander Vice Adm. (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet security service. The controversy centers on Sharvit’s participation in protests against the government’s judicial overhaul, with critics arguing that his appointment would perpetuate problematic ideologies.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit slammed the nomination, stating, “Replacing a person with a Kaplanist worldview with another person with a similar worldview does not solve the problem, but only perpetuates it in a different framework.” Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv echoed these sentiments, asserting that Sharvit is “not suitable to head the Shin Bet” and predicting that the appointment will ultimately be abandoned in favor of a more qualified candidate.

Likud MK Nissim Vaturi added, “If he protests, he will not be the head of the Shin Bet. Let him continue to protest,” emphasizing that active dissent undermines the credibility needed to lead such a crucial institution.

Sources close to the prime minister suggest that Netanyahu is now reconsidering the controversial appointment, making it increasingly unlikely that Sharvit will replace current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal announced Saturday that several suspects have been detained in connection with Friday’s rocket fire from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. During a visit to military posts along the border, Haykal said the army was investigating the incident and warned that such attacks ultimately serve “the enemy.”

Haykal reiterated the military’s commitment to defending Lebanon regardless of political or sectarian divisions and to enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He also accused Israel of hindering the army’s full deployment in the south by occupying Lebanese land and violating national sovereignty.

Israeli airstrikes on Friday targeted sites in southern Lebanon and a building in Beirut’s Dahieh district after the rocket fire. Lebanese sources reported six people killed and 21 injured. The strike in Dahieh—Hezbollah’s stronghold—was Israel’s first there since November and marked a sharp rise in tensions despite a truce brokered by the US and France last year.