Israel's internal security and counterintelligence service
Two activists, Brazilian Thiago Avila and Spanish-Palestinian Saif Abukeshek, have been released from Israeli detention after a hunger strike and are slated for deportation. Israel has said they were detained following the Global Sumud Flotilla’s attempt to break Gaza’s blockade; rights groups say their detention has been unlawful while await deportation.
Israel’s prime minister has said he has made a secret March 26 trip to Al‑Ain to meet UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and has called it a “historic breakthrough.” The UAE has denied the visit. Multiple outlets have reported broader Israel–UAE defence cooperation during the Iran war, including Iron Dome batteries and alleged intelligence coordination.
Israel has instructed legal advisers to consider defamation action against The New York Times and columnist Nicholas Kristof after a May 11 opinion piece alleged widespread sexual abuse of Palestinians by Israeli forces. The Times has defended its fact‑checking and sourcing; Israeli officials and the Israel Prison Service have rejected the claims as "blood libel."
Israel and the United Arab Emirates are coordinating more closely in response to the Iran crisis, with reports that Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head David Zini have visited the UAE to discuss wartime coordination, security sharing, and potential strikes against Iran.
Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, remains detained in Israel without charges, recently moved to solitary confinement. Courts are reviewing his case under the unlawful combatants law; rights groups demand his release as medical care is reportedly withheld.
The opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games is underway in Jerusalem as Israel marks 1,000 days since the Hamas attacks. Organizers highlight resilience while ongoing security concerns loom over the event.
The government has announced a new plan diverting hundreds of millions of shekels from Arab community development to fund enforcement, expanding Shin Bet’s role in combating organized crime alongside police. Protests and legal objections arise from rights groups amid criticism of deepened inequality.
Eisenkot has surged in polls as his Yashar party leads Likud in some surveys for the October 27 election, with calls for stronger security and universal service forming the core of his platform. Netanyahu faces a shifting coalition dynamic as security concerns and politics collide.
Multiple fires have torn through the Havat Gilad settlement and nearby areas in the West Bank, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. Police say an initial probe points to a lit cigarette butt discarded from a vehicle as the likely cause, with arson not ruled out but not yet established. Dozens of structures have been damaged and residents face a humanitarian crisis as firefighting efforts continue.
Several sources report that more than 4,000 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa compound on Tisha B’Av, with far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entering under heavy police protection. Palestinian officials say restrictions barred many worshippers; officials warn the move could threaten the status quo and spur regional tensions.
Netanyahu has met with Trump in Washington to review three approaches to Iran: a diplomatic deal, sustained economic pressure with a blockade, or a renewed military campaign. The discussions, conducted without public detail, aim to determine the path that best prevents a nuclear Iran while considering global energy impacts.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has publicly questioned the West Bank commander’s moves but the army chief remains in place as clashes between political leaders and military officials intensify. The row highlights a broader shift in how victory and limits are defined in a prolonged conflict.