Israeli far-right politician and minister of national security since 2022
Polls show Israelis believe Iran has gained from the conflict and the US-Iran deal; long-term security for Israel is seen as weakened, and Netanyahu’s leadership faces growing criticism as US-Iran talks proceed.
Since early April 2026, Jerusalem's Old City holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, have reopened after a six-week closure due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has repeatedly entered Al-Aqsa, performing Jewish prayers forbidden under the Status Quo, sparking Palestinian and Jordanian condemnation. Restrictions on Muslim worshippers and settler incursions continue, raising fears of escalating tensions and changes to the site's religious status.
Palestinian protests have erupted across the West Bank and Gaza following Israel's passage of a law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians accused of terrorism. The law has drawn international condemnation, increased violence, and protests in Palestinian cities and abroad. Israeli military actions and settler violence continue to escalate.
Israel's Knesset approved a law making death by hanging the default for Palestinians accused of killing Israelis, excluding Jewish citizens. The law has been condemned internationally as discriminatory and a violation of human rights, with critics describing it as institutionalising apartheid-like practices.
China's leader has reiterated support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran conflict and maintain the Strait of Hormuz's passage. Meanwhile, the US has ordered a naval blockade after peace talks with Iran have broken down, escalating tensions in the region today, Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Israel's government secretly approved 34 new settlements in the West Bank, drawing international condemnation. The move, part of a broader settlement expansion since 2022, violates international law and has sparked protests and violence. The Palestinian leadership condemns the decision as illegal and a violation of their rights.
Reports have documented a continuing surge of violent attacks by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank this spring: arson, beatings, shootings and property destruction. Israeli forces are regularly present during incidents, with limited arrests reported; Palestinian authorities say bodies have been withheld after some killings, preventing burial and mourning.
Israel has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank, approving over 100 new or re-established sites in 2026. This includes plans to restore evacuated settlements like Sa-Nur and Ganim, with settlers crossing into Syria's Golan Heights. The moves are increasing tensions and restricting Palestinian movement.
Israel has limited Lag B’Omer activities at Mount Meron and nearby border communities due to a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah and ongoing cross-border clashes. Authorities have restricted outdoor gatherings and announced symbolic bonfires, with security forces intensifying checks as thousands of worshipers had already gathered in the area.
The EU has approved sanctions today targeting seven Israeli settlers or settler organisations and leaders accused of supporting violent colonisation of the West Bank, and has added sanctions on leading Hamas figures. The move has been enabled by Hungarys government change and stops short of trade curbs on settlement goods.
Multiple events in Israel and the West Bank are drawing attention: a deadly shooting outside Umm al-Ghanem linked to a school brawl; a Border Police shooting in Beersheba is under investigation; and a settler attack indictment has been filed in Jerusalem, highlighting ongoing tensions and law-enforcement challenges.
Israel has enacted a law to establish a special military tribunal to try Palestinians accused of taking part in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. The court could hand down the death penalty and will conduct public trials, with processes that rights groups warn may undermine due process. Trials are expected to cover hundreds of suspects and cost billions.
Israel has authorised a plan to build a major military and government complex on the former UNRWA Jerusalem headquarters site in Sheikh Jarrah, consolidating a military and administrative hub in occupied East Jerusalem. The project, linked to demolitions earlier this year, includes a defense ministry presence and army museum.
The US Treasury has listed UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese under an "International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal" after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking earlier sanctions. The Trump administration has appealed and the State Department has said it intends to restore her designation if the court reverses the injunction.
Tens of thousands of Israeli nationalist marchers have marched through Jerusalem's Old City for Jerusalem Day, chanting anti‑Palestinian slogans, vandalising property and prompting many Palestinian shopkeepers to shut. Far‑right ministers have entered the Al‑Aqsa/Temple Mount compound and unfurled an Israeli flag. Activists have deployed to protect locals and regional governments have condemned the incursions.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he was informed of an ICC arrest-warrant request and has ordered the immediate evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar. The ICC has not confirmed any new warrants; Israeli security bodies and courts will determine if and when the order takes effect.
Israel has intercepted the Global Sumud flotilla in international waters and detained about 430 activists. National security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir has posted footage showing bound activists kneeling while he taunts them; the video has provoked condemnation from multiple governments, Israeli ministers and rights groups, and rapid deportations of the detainees.
Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar faces a looming evacuation order after Israel’s far-right finance minister Smotrich has said he is coordinating steps to expel residents, pending cabinet approval. He claims the ICC is seeking an arrest warrant, a claim denied by the ICC; residents fear demolition and displacement amid broader settlement expansion in Area C.
The Guardian and other outlets report that Israeli detention facilities are under scrutiny as footage of abuse of Palestinian detainees surfaces. Officials have faced international condemnation following a high-profile video showing detainees in distress, prompting comment from leaders and human-rights bodies.
Since late May, the EU and several Western allies have imposed travel bans, asset freezes and targeted national sanctions on Israeli settlers, settler organisations and some far-right ministers over record settlement expansion and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Britain, France, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and others are coordinating measures to disrupt financing for extremist settler groups.
France has barred Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering its territory, citing his actions toward passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla. The decision comes amid global reaction to a video showing Ben-Gvir taunting flotilla detainees, which drew condemnation from foreign leaders and even Netanyahu’s coalition partner.
Australians and other international activists detained during a Gaza flotilla have started arriving home. Several claim mistreatment, including beatings and denials of food and water, while Israel denies wrongdoing. Detainees plan to consult lawyers to pursue evidence for possible ICC action.
Israel has intercepted a Gaza aid flotilla, detaining activists and deporting them. A minister has been filmed taunting detainees, triggering condemnations from allies and a push for accountability. Protests have erupted in Bilbao as activists allege abuse during detention.
Israel has escalated its offensive in southern Lebanon, with airstrikes killing dozens, mass displacement orders, and threats of further heavy retaliation. The clash polarises regional diplomacy as Washington seeks to broker a broader deal with Iran, while Lebanon and Hezbollah resist Israeli occupation and pursue withdrawal. A cabinet dispute in Jerusalem signals divergence over response tactics, even as the conflict widens.
Canada has pressed Israel for an independent investigation into the mistreatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla. Ottawa has also reaffirmed its opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and West Bank violence, amid reports of abuse and detentions in international waters.
Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir on suspicion of torture and kidnapping after he posted a video mocking bound flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces on May 18. France and other European states have opened or signalled probes, banned Ben‑Gvir and are weighing EU sanctions.
The Times of Israel reports that a defamation suit against The New York Times is being considered, following a May article alleging sexual abuse by Israeli authorities in detention. Legal experts say any suit would be difficult, with US standards on defamation and potential discovery risk. Israel's government remains tight-lipped about the process.
Multiple reports confirm that Israeli officials have advanced plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including thousands of new homes and infrastructure. The push is led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and could reshape settlement footprint, raising tensions with Palestinians and drawing international condemnation.
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the government must allow visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Palestinian prisoners, overturning a blanket ban imposed after the Hamas attack. The decision covers detainees in Israeli prisons and military detention and follows a joint petition by human-rights groups. The ICRC says it is ready to resume visits; rights groups hope enforcement will curb abuses.
Slovenia’s new government has moved to restore dialogue with Israel, lifting previous sanctions and ending arms embargoes. The move signals a recalibration of Ljubljana’s Middle East policy as it opens an embassy in Israel and signals a more open approach to Israel’s leadership and arms trade.
A gunman has killed one person and wounded five in drive-by shootings near Kochav Yair and nearby towns on 7 June 2026. Police have said they killed a suspected attacker, an Israeli Arab from Tayibe, and recovered a firearm and vehicle; searches for additional suspects are continuing as soldiers and police have sealed nearby areas.
The State Department has launched a pilot program allowing visa applicants to pay $750 for expedited interviews within 10 days at select embassies and consulates. The program runs July 1 through December 31 and does not guarantee issuance or shorten other processing steps. Participating posts will be announced ahead of launch.
Colombia’s president has sparked international backlash by posting the Nazi slogan “Heil Hitler,” drawing condemnations from Israeli leaders and Latin American lawmakers. The remarks have intensified scrutiny ahead of the June 21 runoff, with critics warning against references that distort Holocaust memory and destabilize democratic debate.
Amid rising settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israeli policy advances 69 new settlements with a total plan value of $388m, while a parallel UN-backed and Amnesty reports allege state-backed displacement of Palestinians. Western powers impose coordinated sanctions targeting settler networks; human rights groups call for broader accountability as violence intensifies.
A constellation of leaders has moved toward a framework to end the war in the Middle East, with a 60‑day window for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Israel maintains security zones in Lebanon and voices opposition to the draft agreement, while regional actors warn of consequences if the deal collapses.
The EU- Israel row has intensified after reports that EU foreign policy chief Kallas likened Gaza and West Bank policies to South Africa’s apartheid system. Sa’ar has severed contacts until a retracting statement is issued. The EU says dialogue remains open as divisions over settlements and sanctions persist.
Vice‑President JD Vance has publicly chastised Israeli cabinet ministers who criticised Washington’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, saying President Donald J. Trump remains Israel’s sole sympathetic head‑of‑state and reminding Israelis that much of their recent defensive hardware has been built and paid for by the United States. The remarks expose rising public tension between the two governments while negotiations with Tehran continue.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has intensified as talks brokered by the United States and Iran face renewed pressure. Israeli forces maintain a security zone in the south, while Hezbollah vows retaliation if Israel fails to withdraw. International mediators warn that the interim accord’s terms are at risk of collapse.
Israel’s security cabinet has escalated actions in Lebanon, prompting condemnation from allies and calls for restraint as clashes continue after a ceasefire. Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has posted incendiary remarks demanding Lebanon burn in retaliation for Israeli casualties, drawing global scrutiny.
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