Israeli prime minister, long-serving political figure and diplomat
Palestinian water springs and reservoirs in the West Bank are increasingly inaccessible as Israeli settlers, backed by a hard-line government, hew to a plan to seize springs and designate heritage sites. A water diversion near Fasayil has been linked to a new “Herod’s Pool” and substantial government funding for archaeological projects, illustrating broader tensions over land, resources, and memory.
The Green Party has passed a motion equating Zionism with racism during its Brighton conference, prompting criticism from Israel and British Jewish groups. The measure defines Zionism as an ethnonationalist movement and endorses Palestinian liberation, a single democratic state, the right of return, and BDS. Four of five MPs oppose parts of the resolution; leader Zack Polanski did not vote. Israel bans Polanski from entering the country as a by-election approaches.
More than 100 Israeli settlers have attacked the West Bank village of Jalud while Israeli forces were attempting to escort a displaced Palestinian family back to their home. Settlers set fire to houses and vehicles, injured three security officers and blocked the family's return; police have detained a small number of suspects and court rulings had ordered the family's return.
Israel has imposed countermeasures after the Netherlands banned settlement goods, ordering seven-day deadlines for Dutch diplomats to deliver Israeli papers and expiring immunity. France, Britain and Canada have taken similar steps. The moves reflect growing Western pressure over settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
The US has redeployed about a dozen B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford to the United States amid security concerns over an Iran-related threat. UK officials say the base remains safe as investigations continue into a separate incident near the Gloucestershire site.
Palestinian olive harvests in the West Bank have intensified amid a surge in settler violence and clashes with Israeli forces. Across Beita, Osarin and nearby villages, farmers report arrests, injuries and property damage as soldiers and settlers confront harvesters during the annual season. International concerns have grown as violence escalates.
The UK has broadened sanctions on Israeli settlements, banning goods and financing linked to the West Bank. Lawmakers and legal experts call for a fuller approach that also targets the occupation itself. The policy follows a string of settler violence and ongoing E1 settlement bids ahead of Israeli elections.
The Dubai incident has led to tighter security checks for pilots and foreign carriers entering Israel, with officials warning of potential threats and pledging closer vetting of cockpit crews and security procedures.
Brazil has held a first-round presidential vote that has produced a razor‑thin result: Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has won roughly 47% and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about 45%, leaving neither with an absolute majority. The two will face a runoff on October 25; congressional gains for Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party will reshape the next government’s ability to pass policy.
The US‑backed Board of Peace has presented a six‑month, $2.45bn, 66‑project recovery plan for Gaza and has estimated full reconstruction needs at roughly $71.4bn over the next decade. Implementation has not begun because the plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains largely unpaid; Israeli forces continue to control large parts of the Strip.
The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee’s disqualification of Ra’am and the Joint List, reinstating their ballots for the October 27 election. Cassif remains barred, while Sami Abu Shehadeh withdraws his candidacy; the court’s decision keeps Arab citizens represented as the election race tightens ahead of voting.
A string of congressional actions signals renewed congressional scrutiny of Israel's conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. Democrats push for human rights reporting and accountability, while Republican support for Israel persists ahead of midterms.
The Guardian-produced NAZA has sparked a fierce backlash in Israel after its Venice premiere and North American rollout. The film features 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers describing AI-assisted targeting and civilian casualties in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations and promises to defend its soldiers, while the filmmakers face calls to revoke their citizenship.
Macklemore has announced a short "Free Palestine" tour, saying three European dates have sold out and that proceeds will go to Palestinian aid groups. The shows will run in Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30; additional US dates and guest artists will be announced. He made the move after being removed from Ed Sheeran's US tour earlier in September.
The United States has intensified its push against the International Criminal Court, with sanctions being considered and public threats amplified. The ICC faces mounting stress as Washington argues it lacks jurisdiction over non-member states, even as European allies discuss protective measures to shield European businesses.
Opposition leaders have publicly vowed not to attack one another and to cooperate ahead of the October 27 vote, while discussing potential paths to a coalition despite their individual differences. Polls show a tight race with blocs short of a majority, and Arab parties remain a pivotal factor in forming a government.
Mediapart has published private messages it says were written by Jordan Bardella in 2013 that include antisemitic remarks; Bardella has denied the messages and called the disclosures a "total war" to destabilise Marine Le Pen's campaign, and Le Pen has expressed "total confidence" in him as he threatens legal action.
A series of Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed senior Hamas commanders, including Izz al-Din al-Beik, who headed the Northern Gaza Brigade, and other operatives accused of rebuilding Hamas’s military capabilities. The Israeli military says the targets aimed to remove immediate threats and disrupt militant networks, while Palestinian sources report civilian casualties as the ceasefire remains disputed.
The mayor has introduced a city strategy to combat antisemitism, increasing security funding for synagogues, expanding Jewish history in schools, and promoting Jewish sites in governance. The plan aims to address hate crimes and discrimination, amid criticism of the mayor’s rhetoric on Israel.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation on the flight deck. The airline has said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Israeli officials have said a pilot stabbed the co-pilot and tried to sabotage the aircraft; Israeli warplanes monitored the diversion and passengers restrained the assailant.
Syria says intelligence services have thwarted a Hezbollah‑affiliated cell in the Yarmuk basin, arresting three individuals and revealing plans to prepare rocket launch platforms. Hezbollah denies any link, stating it has no presence in Syrian territory. The case unfolds as Israel warns of potential attacks ahead of October elections.
A flydubai co‑pilot has allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30. Passengers and off‑duty crew have overpowered and restrained him, the jet has made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE has opened a terrorism investigation while questions remain about the suspect’s background.
The lawsuit targets Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronot, Channel 12 and several journalists, alleging false reporting on warnings to Netanyahu before the Hamas attack on October 7. Netanyahu denies the warnings and has filed for defamation, seeking at least NIS 2.6 million. The case follows reports that Egypt’s and UAE leaders warned of an impending attack, which Netanyahu has disputed.
Britain has confirmed strong indications of Iran's involvement in the RAF Fairford incident, with five British men arrested near the base and later bailed. investigations continue as officials pursue further leads; no explosives were found.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane. The injured captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, has been taken to hospital in Tabuk. Passengers and on‑duty crew have overpowered and restrained the attacker; all passengers have returned to Tel Aviv.
J Street has formed a Jewish Community Advisory Council to influence U.S. policy toward Israel, drawing on leaders from major Jewish organizations. The move comes amid shifts in American Jewry’s views on Israel and the Gaza war, with concerns about how to balance advocacy and accountability within the community.
Iran’s UN delegation has left New York after the US pressed Iran to exit, while Tehran says talks are ongoing. The move follows visa restrictions and shifting diplomacy around the Strait of Hormuz amid wider regional tensions.
Probes into a midair altercation aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 have begun across multiple countries. The UAE is coordinating with Saudi Arabia and others to determine circumstances and motives, including whether the incident links to terrorism or pre‑planning. The captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, has been injured and is receiving treatment; authorities say the flight landed safely and passengers continued their journeys on a replacement aircraft.
A Flydubai captain, Smit Machchhar, has been injured after a cockpit attack on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli PM Netanyahu praises his bravery for saving 174 lives amid ongoing investigations. Machchhar has more than 9,750 flying hours and previously worked at SpiceJet.
Arab parties face disqualification challenges as Israel's election rules are tested. The Supreme Court and Central Elections Committee are at the center of rulings that could shape representation for Palestinian citizens ahead of the October 27 vote.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experiences a cockpit assault, rapid descent and emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli passengers and on-board crew subdue the assailant; two off-duty pilots helped stabilize the aircraft. Investigations are underway across Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
FAO director-general Qu Dongyu has questioned staffers’ right to protest while a longtime FAO official has been dismissed for alleged impartiality breaches. The case centers on moments of silence for Gaza hunger, with Davis contesting the grounds for termination amid warnings about political expressions within UN bodies.
Capt. Smit Machchhar has opened the cockpit door to halt a rapid descent of a Flydubai 737 bound for Tel Aviv after a co-pilot attacked him. Passengers helped restrain the attacker and land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi. The incident is under investigation.
Passengers and crew have subdued an attacker on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, preventing a potential crash as the aircraft plummeted and then leveled out. An Israeli passenger and off-duty pilots helped regain control; Trump has praised an ‘Israeli plumber’ whose actions are cited by multiple outlets.
The UAE-led inquiry has identified Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, as the co-pilot involved in the September 30 incident on Flight FZ1073. Passengers and crew overpowered him after he attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit ax. Investigators are examining motive, vetting procedures, and possible links as countries coordinate on security responses.
A Flydubai co-pilot has attacked the captain with an axe during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. Passengers overpowered him; the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigations into links with Australia and possible radicalisation are under way in multiple countries.
Iran has presented a proposal through mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if its seven conditions—based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding—are satisfied. Tehran reiterates a firm stance: the strait will not open until those conditions are met. Iran’s foreign ministry says Washington’s proposals align with prior positions on nuclear issues, while Iran warns of a stronger response if military action resumes.