Israeli prime minister, longest-serving in office in recent decades
A Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, was attacked during a funeral, leaving nine dead and dozens wounded. Authorities are hunting the attackers; the government, king, and regional leaders condemn the act as extremism. Security has been stepped up nationwide while Christians in the country face renewed tensions.
Netanyahu has said Israel is preparing ways to bypass sanctions through an alternative economy, including blockchain-based currencies. The Bank of Israel rebukes the idea, warning it cannot replace traditional finance. The comments come amid growing international sanctions pressure and Israel’s political confrontations ahead of elections.
Palestinian olive farmers face escalating violence as settler attacks and Israeli restrictions threaten livelihoods. The UN warns of displacement and ongoing risk to harvests, while international actors call for protection and accountability.
The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the court faces sweeping U.S. financial sanctions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The prize recognizes the ICC's work while the United States has banned transactions with the court, frozen ICC assets in U.S. jurisdictions and given U.S. companies six months to wind down business.
SpaceX has limited speeds on Starshield and Starlink terminals inside Ukraine, degrading drone operations and air-defence warnings. Publishers report Elon Musk discussed the cap with senior US officials and President Donald Trump; US officials, SpaceX and Kyiv have given competing accounts about whether the White House ordered the slowdown. Kyiv has said full service has not yet been restored.
The Israeli military has issued a high alert and is reinforcing West Bank deployments ahead of the October 27 vote. Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned enemies not to test Israel, while officers say leave is frozen and readiness is being maintained across fronts. Early voting for soldiers will deploy at 850 polling sites.
The Board of Peace has awarded a contract to Arkel International to build a fortified outpost for 150 international troops as the vanguard of a broader stabilisation force for Gaza. Israel has not authorised construction, delaying the ISF deployment and threatening Gaza's reconstruction. The Guardian reported continued border closure; comments from officials confirm ongoing blockage and political sensitivities ahead of Israel’s election.
Merchants have resumed coordination to allow goods into Gaza after private-sector disruptions, with COGAT saying the resumption follows Hamas dropping cash-payment demands. The arrangement prioritizes essentials ahead of winter and tightens transfer rules to bank payments, while the ceasefire framework remains in place and aid fears persist.
Israeli polls show a close race between Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and the centrist opposition, with Arab parties poised to be kingmakers. Voter turnout among Arab Israelis is rising, and analysts say Arab support could shift coalition math in a tightly contested ballot.
A Washington Post photographer, Heidi Levine, has been severely injured after masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and foreign journalists during olive harvesting near Abu Falah on 16 October. Israeli authorities have detained multiple suspects and opened investigations after footage and eyewitness accounts prompted international condemnation and calls for accountability.
Palestinian olive farmers face escalating violence as Israeli settlers attack villages across the northern West Bank during the harvest. Dozens are injured, properties damaged, and crops looted amid heightened tensions ahead of elections. Journalists have been assaulted while covering the clashes, prompting condemnations and calls for accountability.
A Turkish court will hear charges against Israeli leaders and senior officials in relation to the 2025-2026 flotilla interceptions aiming to break Gaza blockade. Italy has expanded its probe, naming more Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Katz and Prime Minister Ben-Gvir, amid alleged torture and abuse of detainees. The cases mark a widening push for accountability in international waters.
Rabbis and officials are responding to a controversial ruling by a religious Zionist rabbi that Palestinians’ olive crops may be harvested by Jews to demonstrate land ownership. The olive harvest season has seen widespread settler violence and international scrutiny as Palestinians face restricted access to groves.
Azerbaijan has tightened dress rules in state schools to enforce secularism, leading to entries denied to hijab-wearing pupils and teachers. Protests have erupted domestically as international groups condemn the move and tensions with Turkey rise over the issue.
President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election, calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and offering a “complete and total endorsement.” US and Israeli sources told multiple outlets that Netanyahu has privately pressed Trump for added public support and even suggested wording and media outreach; Likud has denied the claims.
Israel has held a tightly contested campaign ahead of Oct. 27 elections in which both the Netanyahu-led right and a Zionist opposition bloc are neck-and-neck. Arab-led lists are projected to increase representation and could hold the balance of power; main opposition figures have largely adopted right-leaning security positions and ruled out joining coalitions with Arab parties.
Arab League Secretary-General has visited southern Lebanon with a pledge to support Lebanon’s state institutions and army, urging international action to end Israeli attacks and enable displaced residents to return. The visit follows renewed Israeli strikes and ongoing displacement, with UN agencies reporting hundreds of thousands displaced or affected in water, electricity and infrastructure.
Vice President JD Vance has declined to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's Oct. 27 election, saying he "endorses American candidates" and will focus on U.S. midterms. His comments come a day after President Donald Trump publicly backed Netanyahu and follow Vance's earlier interventions in foreign races, highlighting tensions within the Republican coalition over U.S. support for Israel.
The European Parliament has named the International Criminal Court among three Sakharov Prize finalists. The shortlist includes Tanzania’s opposition leader and Iranian activists. The prize recognises defenders of human rights; the award will be announced ahead of December ceremonies amid US sanctions on the ICC.
Iranian officials say Tehran believes Trump is ready to resume attacks to break the war’s stalemate. They argue the clerical establishment will not allow a Trump political victory and that talks are being prolonged until after the US midterms. Tehran seeks a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under conditions that lift sanctions.
The midterm elections have driven the political landscape as control of the House and Senate is in play. Democrats face a path to power or minority status depending on key races, with implications for policy and nominations. Early voting and advertising spending highlight intensity as November 3 approaches.
Iran has repeated that its policies remain unchanged in the face of threats from the US and Israel, with Tehran saying that any renewed war would not alter its positions. Meanwhile, regional tensions in the Strait of Hormuz intensify as attacks on shipping continue and mediation efforts falter amid broader regional maneuvering.
The eastern Libyan Parliament aligned with Khalifa Haftar has ratified the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum. Greece, Cyprus and Egypt reject the move; the EU calls it null and void. The deal could redraw maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, impacting European allies and energy prospects.
Journalist Heidi Levine has sustained serious injuries after masked settlers attacked during an olive harvest near Abu Falah, north of Ramallah. Palestinian youths shielded reporters; Israeli army is investigating the incident amid broader tensions as more than 20 Palestinians have been killed by settlers this year.
The balance of power in the Middle East remains centered on Iran and regional deterrence. Analysts say Israel’s security doctrine rests on breaking Iran, holding buffer zones, and using force to deter enemies, with no prospect of a broad shift toward Palestinian diplomacy after the election.
Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has expressed skepticism about the Iran war, saying there were mistakes and that the US may be losing the soft power war. He remains supportive of Trump, while criticizing neoconservatives. The remarks come ahead of the US midterms as energy costs mount amid the Hormuz crisis.
A series of Reuters/Ipsos polls shows Democratic voters are more motivated to oppose the president than Republicans are to back him. White evangelicals remain a pivotal bloc for Republicans, but Trump’s support appears to be dipping amid affordability concerns and the broader political climate as voters head to the midterms.
Israel may see a new government emerge as polls show both Netanyahu’s bloc and Eisenkot’s opposition falling short of a majority. Arab-led parties hold the balance of power, with potential deals shaping whether a Netanyahu return or a Eisenkot-led administration governs. The vote is set for late October 2026, with coalition negotiations likely to define policy directions in the near term.
Israeli forces have mounted sweeping operations across the West Bank after gunmen opened fire near Hebron, killing two attackers and wounding several. Troops have sealed Hebron, closed gates and restricted Palestinian movement, displacing hundreds of families and preventing most permit-holding workers from entering Israeli communities until after Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
Israel has launched a large-scale operation in Hebron after a deadly attack at a military checkpoint, with security forces vowing to displace residents and search for militants. The development follows an escalation ahead of national elections, as authorities report multiple casualties among soldiers and militants and warn of further measures.
Washington has long accused Confucius Institutes of being Chinese propaganda tools and has stepped up action against them. The Pentagon says 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up under different guises, with a mission to steal IP and influence students. The latest move adds these centres to the national security threat list as part of a broader, multi-agency effort.
Israel’s election race has intensified with social media campaigns leveraging AI and deepfakes, as Netanyahu and Eisenkot court undecided voters. Campaigns are using online ads, doctored videos, and turnout apps to influence the result ahead of the vote.
Israeli forces have entered Hebron in a broad operation across the city and nearby areas, displacing around 1,300 residents. Netanyahu has pledged a hard response to Friday’s attack, while Palestinians warn of collective punishment amid widespread demolitions and ongoing searches.
The Israel Defense Forces have imposed a full lockdown on Hebron and surrounding areas following a Friday attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed. Palestinians faced displacement as homes were demolished and thousands were uprooted. Israeli authorities warn that the measure will last several days, with further arrests and raids planned across the northern West Bank.
Protesters in Tel Aviv rally three days before Israel’s general election, organized by the October Council to demand accountability for the October 7 Hamas attack. Opponents and supporters convene, with polls showing a tight race between Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and a rival coalition. The event seeks a state commission of inquiry into security failures while authorities warn of potential provocations.