Israel

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives near Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to cars and olive trees and injuring 12 Palestinians, including four dual Palestinian-American citizens, according to a local official. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, wearing press identification, was knocked down, kicked repeatedly and robbed of her cameras and phone, suffering a broken rib, broken vertebrae and a nearly severed finger. The US ambassador to Israel called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US wants Israel to "crack down" on settler violence. The UN reported one Palestinian killed and more than 120 injured in settler attacks on this year's harvest, already exceeding last season's total.

22 reports · 4 sources · Updated Oct 18, 01:13 PM UTC

A convoy of European diplomats from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church was attacked by masked Israeli settlers in Taybeh, a largely Christian village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The delegation was assessing near-daily settler attacks on Palestinians harvesting olives. A Belgian consulate car window was smashed and French mayor Bernard Baudoux, 78, was beaten with iron bars. Belgium, France and the IDF condemned the violence; Netanyahu's office disputed the accounts, while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the "rioters" but criticized the uncoordinated visit.

6 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 18, 06:50 AM UTC

Israel revoked the residency permit of Serena Bilanceri, the taz correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian territories, and denied her a work visa and re-entry. Israeli authorities accuse her of calling for a boycott of Israel in two opinion pieces from September and November 2025 on West Bank settlements and Gaza; she denies this, saying she advocated financial and military sanctions. taz and Reporters Without Borders condemned the move as a press-freedom restriction. Bilanceri is in Jordan; taz seeks German government support for her re-entry.

5 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 14, 05:35 PM UTC

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi announced that an Omani co-pilot on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv planned a suicide attack on Ben Gurion Airport on 30 September 2026, inspired by the 9/11 attacks. The 29-year-old, who joined Flydubai in January 2026 after losing his Oman Air job over extremist views, attacked the captain with a crash axe; passengers overpowered him and the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with more than 170 people aboard. Investigators say he radicalised in Australia from 2017 and acted alone, though verification continues.

10 reports · 4 sources · Updated Oct 11, 04:50 PM UTC

Israel ordered the closure of the UK consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, reducing staff from 20 to seven diplomats. The UK rebranded the facility as a "UK Mission" to maintain services for Palestinians. The compromise prevented further escalation, including potential expulsion of Israeli diplomats from London. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the staff withdrawal was temporary for security reasons, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate's operations are closing.

6 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 8, 03:21 PM UTC

Israel approaches the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks amid a tight national election and a foiled hijacking attempt on a FlyDubai flight. The election is dominated by internal debates over accountability, with opposition leaders demanding a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 disaster, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resists. Israel's security doctrine has shifted toward preemptive strikes, weakening Hamas and Hezbollah, but the country faces growing international criticism and reliance on U.S. and Arab cooperation for defense.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Oct 7, 09:30 AM UTC

On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv (FZ1073) was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot, an Omani national, attacked the captain with an axe or knife, seriously injuring him. The captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. The plane dropped sharply before off-duty pilots landed it safely. Israeli and UAE authorities treat it as a suspected terrorist attack. The co-pilot had reportedly been fired from Oman Air over extremist views.

57 reports · 7 sources · Updated Oct 5, 10:24 PM UTC

The Republic of Ireland football team defeated Israel 3-0 in a Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary, but the game was overshadowed by political protests. Irish players wore black armbands, refused handshakes, and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem to protest the Gaza conflict. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad, citing his personal belief that killing innocent people is wrong. The match was played on neutral ground due to the conflict.

7 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 1, 10:14 PM UTC

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his September 23, 2026 UN General Assembly speech, declared Iran will never "bend the knee" to US pressure, denied seeking nuclear weapons while asserting the right to peaceful nuclear technology, and refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under sanctions. The US delegation walked out. He cited the assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei and civilian deaths as evidence of aggression.

51 reports · 16 sources · Updated Sep 29, 07:30 PM UTC

More than 100 Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jalud in the occupied West Bank on September 28-29, 2026, setting two homes of the al-Tubasi family on fire and preventing their return despite an Israeli High Court ruling. Israeli security forces escorted the family but were unable to complete the return due to settler violence. Three police officers were injured, and two rioters were arrested. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attackers as a "handful of rioters" and called for prosecution.

8 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 29, 04:05 PM UTC

The US-Iran standoff, ongoing since February 28, has entered its seventh month with the Strait of Hormuz blocked. Diplomatic efforts continue, with Trump expecting talks this week after rejecting an Iranian proposal. Iran's foreign minister stated readiness for war but openness to diplomacy. The IRGC seized a US underwater drone in the Strait. Regional spillover includes intensified Saudi-Houthi clashes, with Houthi authorities reporting 67 deaths since September 3.

12 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 28, 09:10 PM UTC

Israel revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch personnel in Ramallah, giving them seven days to return credentials, in retaliation for a Dutch ban on imports from Israeli settlements. The Netherlands summoned the Israeli ambassador, calling the move “unnecessary.” The dispute centers on the Dutch import ban, effective September 22, targeting products from occupied West Bank and Golan Heights settlements.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 28, 06:00 PM UTC

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on February 26 and September 27-28, 2024, a series of military operations in southern Lebanon. On February 26, the IDF struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility, citing an immediate threat. On September 27, the IDF retaliated against a Hezbollah drone attack by striking multiple launch positions and infrastructure. On September 28, the IDF completed a brigade-level operation in Mansouri, destroying Hezbollah infrastructure after evacuating residents two months prior.

9 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 28, 04:55 PM UTC

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Iran is fully prepared for a resumed war, even a "doomsday war," after President Trump rejected a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. The proposal, conveyed via Qatar, required the US to lift its naval blockade, unfreeze $12 billion in assets, and end regional hostilities. Trump called the deal unacceptable, claiming Iran is "losing badly." Iran awaits a definitive US response through mediators.

103 reports · 25 sources · Updated Sep 28, 01:21 PM UTC

Multiple reports from The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Haaretz allege that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received warnings from the UAE and Egypt before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu in a late September 2023 phone call, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel on September 26 to warn of a large-scale Hamas attack. Netanyahu reportedly did not share these warnings with security officials, fearing military action would derail normalization talks with Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu's office denies receiving such warnings.

10 reports · 5 sources · Updated Sep 28, 07:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly on September 24, 2026, defending Israel's military campaigns in Iran and Gaza while under an active ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest, and over 100 protesters, including celebrities, were detained outside. Netanyahu denounced critics as "moral cowards" and called the genocide accusation "the biggest lie of the century."

23 reports · 8 sources · Updated Sep 25, 06:41 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a combative speech at the UN General Assembly on September 24, 2026, prompting dozens of diplomats to walk out. He denied genocide accusations, criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and used props. Outside, police arrested over 100 protesters, including celebrities, during a demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace. The speech was seen as a campaign event ahead of Israeli elections.

18 reports · 8 sources · Updated Sep 25, 02:25 PM UTC

On September 24, 2026, dozens of UN delegates walked out as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. Netanyahu called them "moral cowards" and defended Israel's military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via video after being denied a US visa, accused Israel of "genocide war" in Gaza. The walkout highlighted deep international divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 24, 11:39 PM UTC

On September 24, 2026, Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported that General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, warned that if the US or Israel attacks Iran's national centers or interests again, the conflict could expand beyond the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and ultimately the Indian Ocean. The warning came as Brent crude oil rose back above $100 per barrel amid market concerns over Middle East tensions.

6 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 24, 09:06 AM UTC

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York on September 22, 2026, to address the 81st UN General Assembly. On September 23, he delivered a speech accusing the United States and Israel of causing global instability and launching illegal attacks on Iran. He held up photos of children he claimed were killed by US and Israeli bombs and responded to former US President Trump’s earlier remarks about “eliminating” Iran. The US denied visas to his media team.

20 reports · 8 sources · Updated Sep 23, 03:26 PM UTC

The US State Department approved the potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on September 17-18, 2026, marking a major policy shift. The deal, which includes 49 engines and support equipment, requires congressional approval and faces scrutiny over Israel's military edge and technology security concerns with China. Saudi Arabia welcomed the proposal as a step in defense cooperation.

13 reports · 7 sources · Updated Sep 21, 04:53 PM UTC

Iran executed Hossein Pedaran after convicting him of providing intelligence about military bases, including one in Isfahan Province, to Israel's Mossad in exchange for money. The execution was carried out by Tehran following a court ruling. Separately, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced it dismantled three terrorist cells linked to the United States and Israel in Alborz, Kerman, and West Azerbaijan provinces, arresting or killing multiple suspects.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 20, 10:55 AM UTC

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar and other officials seek to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over their documentary ‘Naza,’ which features former IDF soldiers describing AI-based targeting systems that allegedly enabled mass civilian casualties in Gaza. The film, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has sparked death threats, far-right protests, and calls for legislation. The IDF denies the accusations and considers legal action.

7 reports · 2 sources · Updated Sep 19, 06:21 PM UTC

Israel and Morocco have agreed to comprehensively upgrade their diplomatic relations, including opening embassies in each other’s countries and appointing ambassadors. The agreement, announced by the Israeli government and its UN envoy, also covers expanded economic cooperation and increased direct flights. The move builds on the 2020 Abraham Accords and follows trilateral talks in New York involving Israeli, Moroccan, and U.S. officials. No timeline for implementation was provided.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 17, 01:55 PM UTC

The Trump administration is preparing to sell Israel $2.8 billion worth of munitions, including 40,000 2,000-pound bombs—20,000 MK-84 and 20,000 BLU-117—plus 20,000 I-2000 penetrating warheads. The Washington Post reported the plan, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The sale has been informally notified to congressional committees. Critics note Israel has used such bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, causing severe casualties. The Biden administration had previously suspended similar sales over civilian harm concerns.

9 reports · 5 sources · Updated Sep 16, 11:01 AM UTC

The Israeli military destroyed a large underground Hezbollah complex beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,100 tons of explosives. The blast registered as a magnitude 4.1 earthquake on the US Geological Survey scale. The tunnel network, spanning over two kilometers, contained a command center, weapons depots, and Iranian-made rockets. The operation occurred despite an existing ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 11, 06:45 PM UTC