Israel National News

Israel National News

The Israel National News - Arutz Sheva website

Stories written by the Israel National News team have been compiled and edited by several news writers

News by Israel National News

Hamas begins to regroup

Hamas returns 7,000 security personnel to active service, in an attempt to regain control of areas evacuated by the IDF, BBC report says.

Hamas begins to regroup

These were Yahya Sinwar's instructions for the October 7 massacre

Israeli intelligence locates document instructing Hamas terrorists to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians, set entire towns on fire, and document their actions, The New York Times reports.

These were Yahya Sinwar's instructions for the October 7 massacre

Hostages to be released on Monday - perhaps even Sunday

Under the agreement, living hostages will be returned first, possibly as a single group, and deceased hostages will be returned later.

Hostages to be released on Monday - perhaps even Sunday

Tennessee:

Deadly blast at Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 dead or missing

A blast at a Tennessee explosives facility leaves 19 dead or missing. The site, a DoD contractor, has been destroyed. Emergency crews and federal agents are investigating.

Deadly blast at Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 dead or missing

Optimism grows:

Optimism grows in Israel: Hostages could be freed before Monday deadline

Israel’s completion Phase A of Trump’s hostage deal sparks hope for early release before Monday. Medical centers are on alert as families are told it could happen as soon as Sunday.

Optimism grows in Israel: Hostages could be freed before Monday deadline

Report:

Report: Trump to host Gaza summit in Egypt with global leaders

President Trump will host a Gaza summit in Egypt next week, joined by global leaders to support his peace plan.

Report: Trump to host Gaza summit in Egypt with global leaders

Hostage deal

Supreme Court rejects petition against terrorist release in hostage deal

Supreme Court dismisses a petition against releasing terrorist prisoners in the Hamas deal, citing the issue as a core security matter under government discretion.

Supreme Court rejects petition against terrorist release in hostage deal

Operation Returning Home:

Operation Returning Home: Netanyahu reviews hostage care preparations

PM Netanyahu visits Sheba Hospital before Shabbat to inspect preparations for returning hostages and honor wounded IDF soldiers, praising their courage and the medical teams' readiness.

Operation Returning Home: Netanyahu reviews hostage care preparations

After finalizing hostage deal:

After finalizing hostage deal: Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner visit Western Wall

US envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump visited the Western Wall, praying with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch for the hostages’ safe return and lasting peace in the region.

After finalizing hostage deal: Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner visit Western Wall

Pollard to Arutz Sheva:

Pollard: Israel should have rejected US-imposed ceasefire deal

Jonathan Pollard tells Arutz Sheva that Israel’s acceptance of an American-imposed ceasefire reflects failed leadership and warns it could bring another national disaster.

Pollard: Israel should have rejected US-imposed ceasefire deal

Wife of terror victim:

Rabbi Raziel's wife: If his murderer's release is price for hostages, 'do so with my love'

As part of Hamas’s demands to update the list of prisoners to be released, the Israeli government is approving an unusual telephone vote to replace 11 Fatah terrorists with Hamas operatives.

Rabbi Raziel's wife: If his murderer's release is price for hostages, 'do so with my love'

Netanyahu

Netanyahu: 'Gaza will be demilitarized - the easy way or the hard way'

In a statement to the nation on the ceasefire, PM Netanyahu says only military and political pressure on Hamas compelled the terror group to release all of the hostages.

Netanyahu: 'Gaza will be demilitarized - the easy way or the hard way'

Nobel Peace Prize not awarded to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machada awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, beating out the US President who brokered this week's ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.

Nobel Peace Prize not awarded to Trump

Aryeh Deri

Aryeh Deri: 'A great miracle from heaven'

Shas chairman calls the deal to return the hostages miraculous and an achievement no one dreamed of.

Aryeh Deri: 'A great miracle from heaven'

Watch

Watch: Holiday Prayer and Songs at Hostages’ Square

Hundreds gathered this morning at Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv for Shacharit and Hallel prayers, led by Rabbi Tamir Granot and attended by rabbis and family members of hostages.

Watch: Holiday Prayer and Songs at Hostages’ Square

Deal's price

Deal's price: Marwan Barghouti won't be released, but Ramallah lynchers will be

The four 'aces' Hamas sought to have freed in the ceasefire agreement will not be freed, but many murderers and mass murderers, including Islamic Jihad and PFLP leaders, will be.

Deal's price: Marwan Barghouti won't be released, but Ramallah lynchers will be

Families to receive notices of the release of their loved ones' murderers

Starting today, families who lost loved ones to terrorist attack will receive personal notices that the terrorists who murdered their family members will be released under the ceasefire deal.

Families to receive notices of the release of their loved ones' murderers

Bulgaria probes antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites

Bulgarian police investigating antisemitic vandalism at Varna synagogue and Burgas Holocaust memorial. The Foreign Ministry condemns the acts as “unacceptable”.

Bulgaria probes antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites

Security forces searching

Suspected infiltration in Kochav Hashachar in Binyamin region, security forces searching

Report received of a suspect who attempted to break into a house in Kochav Hashachar. IDF troops are searching the area alongside additional units.

Suspected infiltration in Kochav Hashachar in Binyamin region, security forces searching

Poll:

Poll: Likud gains strength, Yesh Atid falls below electoral threshold

Two new polls show growing support for Likud and the right-wing bloc. Channel 13 poll finds that 82% of the public back Trump’s proposal to end the war and secure the release of hostages.

Poll: Likud gains strength, Yesh Atid falls below electoral threshold

New York AG Letitia James faces fraud charges in Virginia

James has been under federal investigation since May over a 2023 mortgage she obtained to assist her niece in purchasing a home in Norfolk, Virginia.

New York AG Letitia James faces fraud charges in Virginia

Watch:

Watch: Jerusalem’s tribute to President Trump

The walls of Jerusalem’s Old City and the Chords Bridge illuminated with the flags of the United States and Israel, in appreciation of President Trump’s efforts to secure the release of hostages.

Watch: Jerusalem’s tribute to President Trump

US sends 200 troops to Israel to monitor Gaza ceasefire

The US is deploying 200 troops to Israel to monitor Gaza ceasefire and aid flow, as part of Trump’s peace plan. Troops will coordinate with allies and IDF, but won’t enter Gaza.

US sends 200 troops to Israel to monitor Gaza ceasefire

'Comprehensive End of the War’

'Comprehensive End of Gaza War’: Document outlining Israel-Hamas agreement revealed

Document agreed upon between Israel and Hamas outlining Trump’s Gaza peace plan: IDF withdrawal, full aid entry, and hostage release within 72 hours, coordinated by a multinational task force.

'Comprehensive End of Gaza War’: Document outlining Israel-Hamas agreement revealed

Deal moves forward:

Deal moves forward: Government approves framework for release of all hostages

Government approves framework for the release of all hostages. Ministers from Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionist Party vote against the deal, with the exception of Minister Ofir Sofer.

Deal moves forward: Government approves framework for release of all hostages

Ben Gvir to US envoys:

Ben Gvir to US envoys: Would you make a deal with Hitler?

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir clashes with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during government meeting to approve the agreement with Hamas.

Ben Gvir to US envoys: Would you make a deal with Hitler?

Ohana invites Trump to address Knesset after hostage release deal

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invites President Trump to speak in Israel’s parliament, praising his role in securing hostage release and brokering a historic regional peace agreement.

Ohana invites Trump to address Knesset after hostage release deal

Two Years Later:

Two Years Later: Released terrorist killed trying to carry out attack

An attacker who about two years ago assaulted a Jewish shepherd was killed last night planting an IED near an Israeli farm.

Two Years Later: Released terrorist killed trying to carry out attack

The last elimination before the ceasefire?

At least four Hamas terrorists were killed in a strike in Gaza City, and dozens more were trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building.

The last elimination before the ceasefire?

Pres. Herzog meets Trump envoys Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff

President Isaac Herzog this evening welcomed US President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Pres. Herzog meets Trump envoys Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff

Leah Goldin:

Leah Goldin: 'World leaders - don't let Hamas play you'

Leah Goldin, mother of captured soldier Hadar, made a personal appeal to world leaders not to allow Hamas to control the recovery of the hostages.

Leah Goldin: 'World leaders - don't let Hamas play you'

Ben Gvir

Ben Gvir: 'If Hamas is not dismantled, we'll dismantle the government'

Otzma Yehudit head welcomes the return of the hostages but declares that he will not support a deal that frees murderers and also demands the dismantling of the Hamas government as a red line.

Ben Gvir: 'If Hamas is not dismantled, we'll dismantle the government'

Khalil al-Hayya

Khalil al-Hayya: 'Hamas received guarantees from US on end of war'

Hamas leader says the terror group received guarantees from America and the mediators that the hostage deal will end the war.

Khalil al-Hayya: 'Hamas received guarantees from US on end of war'

Government to approve release of 250 life-term prisoners

The government will be required to approve the release of Palestinian prisoners - 250 terrorists serving life sentences and 1,700 Gaza residents who were arrested after the October 7 massacre.

Government to approve release of 250 life-term prisoners

Trump

Trump: 'All hostages should be released on Monday or Tuesday'

President Trump meets with his Cabinet at the White House a day after his negotiators secured an agreement to release all of the hostages by early next week.

Trump: 'All hostages should be released on Monday or Tuesday'

Senior Analyst:

Senior Analyst: 'Hamas will never return to rule 53% of Gaza'

Political commentator Amit Segal believes the agreement to return the hostages almost fully realizes the war objectives set by the government at the outset.

Senior Analyst: 'Hamas will never return to rule 53% of Gaza'

Zvi Yehezkeli:

Zvi Yehezkali: The real price of the hostage deal

Arab affairs commentator Zvi Yehezkali says that alongside the great joy over the return of the hostages, Hamas gained many achievements at Israel’s expense in the first phase of the agreement.

Zvi Yehezkali: The real price of the hostage deal

Hours After The Deal:

Hours After The Deal: Hostage's family holds brit mila ceremony

The family of hostage Avinatan Or celebrated today the birth of their new grandson in a particularly emotional brit milah ceremony held in the community of Shiloh, just hours after the hostage deal was announced.

Hours After The Deal: Hostage's family holds brit mila ceremony

Returned hostages to receive NIS 60,000 from National Insurance Institute

In the first phase, each returning hostage will receive a prepaid card worth 10,000 NIS and an additional cash grant of approximately 50,000 NIS.

Returned hostages to receive NIS 60,000 from National Insurance Institute

During livestream

Anti-Israel Twitch streamer Hasan Piker accused of using shock collar on dog

Far-left Twitch streamer who called Jews "inbred" and said it "does not matter" if Israelis were raped on 10/7 faces controversy over his treatment of his dog during a livestream.

Anti-Israel Twitch streamer Hasan Piker accused of using shock collar on dog