Israel National News

British commentator held in US over Gaza criticism lands back in London

British commentator Sami Hamdi returns to London after two weeks in US detention. His visa was revoked during a Gaza-focused speaking tour.

Report:

Report: Trump pushing Saudis on Israel normalization after Gaza ceasefire

Axios reports Trump told MBS the Gaza war is over and he now expects Saudi Arabia to move toward peace with Israel. US officials hope for progress ahead of next week’s White House meeting.

Activists scale Brandenburg Gate, arrested after pro-Palestinian banner display

Six activists climb Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, light flares, and unfurl a pro-Palestinian Arab banner. Police arrest them after a 90-minute rescue operation.

British university bans lecturer over blood libel claims

University College London reports lecturer Samar Maqusi to police and bans her from campus over a lecture reviving blood libel and antisemitic tropes.

Body of hostage Meny Godard returned to Israel

Israel receives, via the Red Cross, the coffin of a deceased hostage, identified as Meny Godard from Kibbutz Be'eri.

Poll

Poll: Likud leads with 27 seats

A new poll published by Channel 12 News shows the Likud remaining the largest party with 27 seats while Naftali Bennett's party would place 2nd with 22 seats.

Lahav 433 Chief revealed as officer under internal investigation

Deputy Commissioner Manny Binyamin, head of the elite Lahav 433 Unit, was questioned by the Police Internal Investigations Unit on suspicion of breach of trust and abuse of office.

Blow to Chief Rabbinate, victory for Tzohar

The Supreme Court has ordered the Chief Rabbinate to decide whether the Tzohar organization is eligible for a kashrut certification license under the 2021 kashrut reform initiated by former Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana.

Tragedy in southern Israel military base

Corporal Ermias Bahata, aged 18, from Maale Adumim, a trainee at the Logistics Corps training base, collapsed and passed away on a base in southern Israel, IDF is investigating.

Senator Fetterman hospitalized after fall near home

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is recovering in a Pittsburgh hospital after suffering a fall caused by a ventricular fibrillation episode near his Braddock home.

First time

First time: US to designate 4 Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations

The State Department is set to declare 4 European far-left groups affiliated with Antifa as terrorist organizations for their involvement in violent attacks.

Hebron

Hebron: 'We're people of the Bible, we're living the Bible'

Yishai Fleisher, International Spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron, says that this year's Shabbat Chayei Sarah is special as the Jewish community celebrates the return of the hostages.

Israel honors lone soldiers with support and services

Over 4,000 Lone Soldiers and Bnot Sherut took part in the IDF’s annual Yom Siddurim in Tel Aviv, organized by FIDF and Nefesh B’Nefesh to provide vital services and heartfelt support.

Kurdistan:

Kurdish court drops death penalty for Jewish man after 10 years

A judge in Iraqi Kurdistan withdrew the death sentence of Kurdish Jew Binyamin Hassin after a 'sulha' agreement between families ended a decade-long global legal and diplomatic effort.

Defense Minister Katz

Defense Minister Katz: 'Soldiers should serve in the IDF, not in a broadcasting station'

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the proposed resolution to close Galei Tzahal will be submitted to the government for approval in the coming weeks and that there is 'no going back.'

Terror attack foiled in Gush Etzion, two terrorists eliminated

IDF soldiers eliminated two terrorists armed with Molotov cocktails who approached the community of Karmei Tzur. No Israeli casualties were reported.

Netanyahu 'not afraid'of traveling to NYC under Mamdani

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses election of anti-Israel Democratic socialist as mayor of New York City. 'It’s good to be a young leader, but it’s not good to be a young, uneducated leader.'

Military Court:

Military Court: Legal proceedings against Force 100 troops suspended

The Military Court suspended all proceedings in the Force 100 soldiers’ case until the new Military Advocate General takes office, as defense attorneys urged the IDF to cancel the indictment.

Netanyahu:

Netanyahu: Israel will stand on its own, not rely on US funding

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is moving toward greater self-reliance, denying reports of a long-term US aid deal and stressing that Israel fights its own battles without foreign troops.

Netanyahu

Netanyahu: 'I'll consider asking for pardon, will not plead guilty'

In an interview with Australian journalist Erin Molan, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed his legal battle and President Trump’s involvement: "The trial only embarrasses the prosecution."

Force 100 lawyers demand charges be dropped

The military court in Beit Lid opened a hearing today on a request by the lawyers of Force 100 soldiers accused in the Sde Teiman case to cancel the indictment against them.

Austrian Indictment:

Austrian Indictment: Senior Syrian officer who tortured civilians was Mossad agent

A senior official in Assad’s regime is accused of torture and the killing of detainees. According to the prosecution, he hid in Europe for years with the help of intelligence agencies, including the Mossad.

Bennett: Trump plan is Oslo on steroids

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warns against transferring authority over Gaza to hostile elements, demands public be privy to full text of agreements.

Carmel cave dwellers 15,000 years ago hunted lakes, not the sea

New University of Haifa study reveals Natufian hunter-gatherers relied on waterfowl from coastal lakes and marshes at the end of the Ice Age.

Justice Minister announces: No compromise

Justice Minister Yariv Levin digs in his heels on choice of candidate to lead investigation into Military Advocate General, Force 100 affair. 'Any other result will lead to covering up the truth.'

Police Scandal:

Police Scandal: Ben-Gvir opposes replacing officer under investigation

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is backing the senior police commissioner who was questioned by the Police Investigations Department rather than seeking to replace him.

Shechem-area mosque set aflame

Rioters set fire to mosque, scrawl graffiti at scene.

IDF officer who ignored massacre warnings returns to service

An intelligence officer who called the scenario of a Hamas incursion "entirely imaginary" and ignored warnings that contributed to the failure, has returned to active service in the IDF Intelligence Department.

Desalinated water begins flowing to Kinneret

A new stream flows into the Galilee, marking a small start in the battle to save the Kinneret, as the Mideast drought continues.

US Amb. hails Syrian Pres.' visit:

US Amb. hails Syrian President’s White House visit as 'turning point' in Mideast history

US Ambassador and Syria Envoy Tom Barrack calls Syrian President al-Sharaa’s White House meeting 'historic shift,' praises Syria’s move from isolation to regional partnership.

Watch:

Watch: How a wounded soldier was evacuated under fire in Gaza

The footage was revealed as part of an innovative conference to promote medical solutions for the battlefield held by the IDF Medical Corps.

In southern Lebanon:

IDF strikes Hezbollah targets hidden in civilian areas in southern Lebanon

IDF carries out strikes on a weapons storage facility and underground terror infrastructure site used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

CENTCOM:

CENTCOM: 22 anti-ISIS operations in Syria, 5 terrorists eliminated, 19 captured

CENTCOM reports 22 operations against ISIS in Syria last month, killing 5 and capturing 19. The raids weakened ISIS’s ability to operate locally or globally.

Time magazine names captivity survivor Eli Sharabi’s memoir among year’s top 100

Time magazine names Eli Sharabi’s memoir “Hostage” one of the year’s top 100 books. Sharabi, held by Hamas for 491 days, recounts his ordeal and loss in a raw account that reached NYT bestseller status.

Jewish institutions targeted

Germany arrests another suspect in Hamas cell targeting Jewish institutions

Germany arrests another suspect in a Hamas-linked plot targeting Jewish institutions. The man allegedly smuggled weapons and ammo to a Berlin cell.

Trump signs bill ending historic 43-day shutdown

Trump signs into law the bill ending the 43-day government shutdown, after the House of Representatives approved it by a majority of 222 to 209.

Starmer: BBC should 'get their house in order'

British PM Keir Starmer urges BBC to correct their mistakes after Trump threatens to sue the broadcaster for $1B over a misleading speech edit.

First time since October 7:

For the first time since October 7: Morocco resumes flights to Israel

The decision follows discussions between Transportation Minister Miri Regev and her Moroccan counterpart, and was approved by aviation authorities in both countries.

Israeli officials:

Israeli officials: Hamas holds information on all four deceased hostages

Officials say Hamas possesses full details on all hostages, including those held by Islamic Jihad: “Pressure must be applied until the last one is returned.”

After violence in Samaria

Yesha Council head backs IDF, slams anarchists for violence in Samaria

Yesha Council head Yisrael Ganz condemns recent violence by extremists in Judea and Samaria, backs IDF and police actions, and calls for sovereignty to restore law and protect innocent civilians.