Israeli military officer, Chief of the General Staff since March 2025
Iran has escalated its maritime posture amid a widening conflict in the region. Tehran asserts control over key shipping lanes and warns of wider attacks if provoked, while the US and allied forces maintain naval blockades. Oil markets react as energy shipments through Hormuz face disruption and prices rise.
Civil defence teams in Gaza City have recovered the remains of 112 people, including about 40 children, from a residential block hit on 22 November 2023. Hundreds attended mass funerals after days of hand-digging; officials say 157 people remain under the same rubble and thousands more are still reported missing across Gaza.
The IDF says it has eliminated Hamas targets in Gaza amid ongoing clashes following the October 7 events. It notes precision in strikes aimed at militants while reiterating that operations continue against threats to troops and civilians. Updates also reference international responses and ongoing ceasefire dynamics.
Iran and Oman have approached a provisional arrangement to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran has set new conditions — including compensation and an end to attacks — and Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said the strait will stay closed until Washington meets those demands. Attacks on commercial vessels and rising oil prices have followed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the US-backed 15-point Gaza roadmap and has said Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Israel has largely paused targeted strikes while US mediators press for implementation; Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the roadmap but conditions its cooperation on Israeli withdrawal and a halt to operations.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
Several unarmed kites have been found this weekend in Kibbutz Nahal Oz and other southern Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Israel has said it will respond forcefully, treating kites and balloons like drones. Hamas has denied responsibility and called the kites childrens toys; Gaza media have reported Israeli strikes that killed civilians.
Iran and the United States are locked in a widening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran arrays for potential retaliation as Washington expands sanctions targeting Iran’s digital assets, gold, aviation and shipping. Mediators in the region push to reopen Hormuz and end hostilities amid rising economic pressure.
The West Bank sees escalating settler violence with multiple incidents this week. Israeli forces have reinforced areas amid ongoing clashes, while Palestinian communities report property theft, displacement, and arrests. U.S. lawmakers have urged Netanyahu to curb violence and halt new settlements as international scrutiny grows.
Defence Minister Katz has stated that there is no real solution for Gaza without migration, saying Israel is prepared to relocate Gazans by sea, air, and other means. The idea is being discussed as part of a broader debate over displacement, with international concern growing over humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The UK has announced a ban on imports and services linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and has coordinated measures with several allies. Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem and imposed retaliatory diplomatic steps. British Jewish leaders are split and ministers are defending the move as necessary to protect the two‑state prospect.
NAZA, an 80‑minute documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has premiered at the Venice Film Festival, won a special jury prize and prompted sustained criticism from Israeli officials. The film presents anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel alleging AI‑assisted targeting and frequent civilian deaths in Gaza; Israel’s defence establishment has rejected the claims and ordered inquiries.
The Venice Special Jury Prize for NAZA has triggered a political firestorm in Israel. Culture Minister Miki Zohar calls to strip the filmmakers’ citizenship, while Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials condemn the film as treasonous. The documentary cites 24 anonymous Israeli insiders and alleges AI-assisted targeting and anticipated civilian casualties in Gaza; the filmmakers say the film seeks accountability.
Israel has shortened the time before Elor Azaria’s criminal record is automatically cleared, allowing him to begin a new chapter in life; the move follows the controversy over his 2017 manslaughter conviction for killing Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron.
Israeli forces have intensified raids in Biddu and surrounding towns after a shooting near Neveh Tzuf. Officials say dozens have been detained, homes searched, and access blocked as military operations continue ahead of upcoming elections.
Documentary NAZA relies on anonymous Israeli military testimonials alleging AI-enabled targeting in Gaza. While the film has won Venice’s Special Jury Prize and will stream via The Guardian, Israeli officials deny the allegations and threaten legal steps against the filmmakers. The Guardian cooperates on distribution; filmmakers argue for public access amid ongoing debate.
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.
Israel has stated it will continue targeting anyone involved in the Hamas attack and hostages, as violence and casualties in Gaza mount after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Leaders mark anniversaries and pledge resolve amid ongoing conflict and post-war planning.
A video shows Rabbi Dov Lando, 96, the spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, condemning Zionism and questioning Israel’s state, while also saying ultra-Orthodox service exemptions are tied to politics. The remarks come three weeks before the October 27 election and add fuel to debates over Haredi military exemptions and the government’s stability.
The latest batch of reports indicates the United States has told the Pentagon to be ready for the possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran. The move could involve large-scale strikes on energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets and may occur before the U.S. midterm elections. Trump insists he will not attack Iran before the elections while officials say preparations are advancing; Iran and its allies are on high alert as regional tensions escalate.
Western officials say Tehran remains capable of rebuilding its arsenal, with ballistic missiles and anti-ship weapons well stocked and able to be expanded. China/Russia feedback not confirmed; US and allies watch for further action ahead of midterm elections.
The documentary NAZA has opened in US cinemas after winning applause at Venice and New York festivals. Israeli military insiders in the film have alleged reckless killings of civilians in Gaza and described using AI-driven surveillance to select targets. Israel has denied the claims, called for probes and threatened action against those who spoke to the filmmakers.
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 Guardian‑produced NAZA, based on 24 anonymous Israeli military insiders, has sparked a political backlash after Venice’s Special Jury Prize. Netanyahu has called for investigations and citizenship revocation; filmmakers face legal and security pressure even as the film screens in over 50 countries. A counter‑film and online misinformation efforts have emerged, challenging NAZA’s claims.
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.
Israel has established a dedicated Space Division under its Planning Directorate to oversee space-based military operations, sensors, and space warfare development. The move follows concerns about space as a combat domain and aims to enhance monitoring, defense, and potential attacks from space, with implications for Palestinians and regional security.
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.
Israel has held a high-turnout election whose early counts and exit polls have shown Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition each winning roughly 50–52 Knesset seats, short of the 61 needed to form a government. Arab-led parties have surged to about 17–18 seats and are positioned to hold the balance of power as final results are completed.
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.
Israeli forces have expanded operations in Hebron after a deadly attack at a military checkpoint, displacing thousands of Palestinians and prompting international concerns. The government has pledged a large-scale response, while the UN and rights groups call for restraint.
Israel has expanded a security operation in Hebron and across the West Bank following Friday’s deadly attack, displacing thousands, sealing districts, and banning Palestinian workers from most areas on election day. The move follows international concerns about collective punishment and displacement.
The Israeli military is conducting a focused operation in Hebron, pushing for house-to-house searches and the dismantling of suspected terror infrastructure. Authorities have evacuated and displaced hundreds of residents as clashes persist, with several gunmen killed and multiple civilians affected.
The Middle East edges toward greater diplomatic flurry as Pakistan’s army chief visits Tehran, while the US, Iran, and allied forces intensify actions in Yemen, Gaza, and Hormuz waterways. New talks come as Russia and Qatar broker channels, signaling a multi-front push to avert a wider war.
Israelis cast ballots in a pivotal Knesset election as exit polls point to a tight race between Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc and Eisenkot’s Yashar coalition, with Arab parties potentially kingmakers. Results suggest no clear majority, setting the stage for weeks of coalition talks and possible caretaker governance.
The Israeli prime minister has warned of existential danger and has reportedly pressed the IDF toward action on Iran on the eve of elections. Reports also indicate pressure on military leadership and mixed signals from allied leaders about possible pre-election strikes.