Jerusalem dominates headlines again as clashes at holy sites, Gaza tensions and regional pressure strain the city’s fragile status. A historic capital for Jews, Christians, Muslims; deeply contested.
Since Saturday, Israel has faced extensive missile strikes from Iran, following a US-Israeli attack targeting Iran's leadership. The conflict has resulted in multiple casualties, including civilians and emergency responders, and widespread damage across several cities. The situation remains tense as Israel and its allies respond with ongoing military strikes.
Recent stories highlight diverse weight loss strategies, including habit-based changes, personalized nutrition, and the evolving restaurant scene in Miami. Meanwhile, a renowned Israeli chef plans to retire, and Mediterranean diet practices gain popularity. These developments reflect shifting attitudes toward health, food, and lifestyle in 2026.
Over the past days, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks targeting US and regional assets, retaliating against US and Israeli strikes. The conflict has caused regional disruptions, including airspace closures, flight cancellations, and civilian casualties, with ongoing military exchanges and international concern.
UN figures show Israeli forces and settlers have killed or injured Palestinian children at escalating rates in the West Bank since January 2025, with 347 children in detention and thousands displaced in 2026. UNICEF is calling for urgent actions to protect children’s rights and halt violence.
Israeli authorities have sealed access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and other key religious sites in Jerusalem, citing security concerns linked to regional conflict and Iran's regional actions. The closures, ongoing since early March, coincide with heightened restrictions during Ramadan and regional tensions, provoking condemnation from Jordan, Palestinian groups, and Arab states.
A missile attack in Beit Shemesh, attributed to Iran, killed nine people, including three children, and injured 65. Many homes were damaged, and evacuees are sheltering in hotels amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty about rebuilding. The attack marks a significant escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Walid Khalidi, a leading scholar of Palestinian history and co-founder of the Institute for Palestine Studies, passed away in Massachusetts at age 100. His meticulous research on the Nakba and Palestinian villages shaped modern understanding of Palestinian history. Tributes highlight his influence on scholarship and diplomacy.
Israeli authorities continue to restrict access to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, citing security concerns linked to the Israel-Iran conflict. The Islamic Movement calls for mass gatherings and Jordan's intervention as worshippers face ongoing closures and restrictions, with tensions escalating in the region.
Israeli police arrested Raz Cohen, a 26-year-old Iron Dome reservist, on suspicion of passing security secrets to Iran. Cohen maintained contact with Iranian agents over several months, providing details about Israel’s military defenses. The arrest occurs amid ongoing Israel-Iran hostilities and recent missile exchanges that have resulted in civilian casualties.
The US extends its deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, delaying strikes to allow talks. Iran warns of threats, while regional violence continues with Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Iran firing missiles at US bases. The conflict remains unresolved after three weeks.
Pope Leo has delivered repeated calls for peace during the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, emphasizing dialogue over violence. Speaking at Easter and a peace vigil, he condemned the use of Christian faith to justify war and highlighted the suffering in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has intensified Christian rhetoric within the military, prompting controversy and legal challenges.
On Palm Sunday 2026, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo from entering Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing security concerns due to ongoing conflict with Iran. This marked the first such restriction in centuries, sparking international criticism and diplomatic protests over religious freedom during Holy Week.
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.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo urged global hope and condemned war, abuse, and profit-driven violence. He addressed the ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, highlighted restrictions on religious ceremonies in Jerusalem, and emphasized the importance of hope in darkness. The pope's message focused on justice, vulnerability, and the need for peace.
Gaza's small Christian community marks Easter with prayers and traditions despite severe shortages and violence. Many have fled, and church attendance is down. Restrictions and attacks have disrupted religious practices, highlighting ongoing conflict and humanitarian struggles in the region.
Palestinians report Israeli restrictions and provocations at Jerusalem's holy sites, including attempts by Jewish extremists to perform animal sacrifices at Al-Aqsa. Israeli authorities reopened the sites after weeks of closures due to regional conflict, but tensions persist with reports of incursions and restrictions affecting Muslim, Christian, and Jewish worshippers.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's trial has been postponed for at least two weeks due to classified security reasons linked to recent regional tensions. The delay follows Israel's ceasefire with Iran and ongoing military actions in Lebanon. Netanyahu denies corruption charges, while security agencies cite threats to his safety.
Since early April 2026, reports have documented a surge of violent incidents by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank: arson, beatings, shootings and property destruction. Israeli forces have been present at many scenes, limited arrests have been reported, and Palestinian authorities say bodies have been withheld in some killings, preventing burial and mourning.
Israel and the UK see prices and rents easing in parts of their markets, while Australia faces affordability limits. Across regions, supply gaps and policy shifts are shaping buyer and renter behavior amid geopolitical tensions and rising rates.
Israel has marked its 78th Independence Day with nationwide celebrations, despite recent conflicts. The country is shifting from mourning to celebration as ceasefires with Iran and Hezbollah hold, allowing public festivities to resume across cities, including beaches, parks, and community events. The holiday reflects resilience amid ongoing tensions.
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.
Israeli officials have said forces now control about 60% of the Gaza Strip, expanding beyond the original ceasefire 'Yellow Line' into a newly mapped restricted zone. Negotiations on Hamas disarmament and reconstruction are stalling, aid deliveries remain constrained, and exchanges of strikes have continued during the truce.
Displaced Palestinians in the West Bank have faced renewed violence as Israeli settlers launch attacks near Al-Awsaj and Jiljilyya, killing at least one teenager and displacing additional Bedouin communities amid Nakba Day tensions.
Tens of thousands of Israeli nationalists have marched through Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day, with far‑right ministers entering the Al‑Aqsa/Temple Mount compound and many marchers chanting anti‑Palestinian slogans. Palestinian shopkeepers have closed their businesses, activists have deployed to protect residents, and several governments have condemned provocations.
Israel has targeted Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Hamas's military chief in Gaza, with air strikes; Haddad's fate remains unclear as medics report casualties in Gaza City. U.S. President Trump says Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s second in command, has also been killed in an operation with Nigerian forces.