Middle East Crisis

Gaza War
Netanyahu Visits US Hub Monitoring Ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the US hub monitoring the Gaza ceasefire last night, Haaretz reports.

– We are working together to achieve the goal we agreed on with President Trump. To disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza, while fully maintaining our security, US officials said.

According to Netanyahu's office, he was "impressed by the joint Israeli-American effort to promote and implement President Trump's framework".

Israel: Two bodies handed over to the Red Cross

The Israel Defense Forces says that Hamas has handed over the remains of two hostages to the Red Cross, which in turn will hand over the bodies to Israel, several media outlets report.

Before today's handover, the terror organization had handed over 15 of the 28 bodies it promised to return in the ceasefire agreement.

The agreement was signed on October 19, and Israel has criticized its counterpart for being far too slow in handing over the bodies.  

Political situation in Israel
Hundreds of thousands in religious protest against punishment for war refusal

Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis are demonstrating in several locations in Jerusalem against the conscription of religious men into military service and punishment if they refuse. This is reported by Israeli media.

Opposition politician Yair Golan suggests on X that the military police should control all protesters and “let them choose: be part of the state of Israel or pay the price.”

The historic conflict between religious and secular Israelis has intensified during the Gaza war. Religious people have previously avoided military service. Now that they are being called up, religious groups that are normally divided have joined forces, writes Haaretz.

The Israeli Journalists’ Union reports that several journalists have been attacked by the protesters, writes the Times of Israel. A reporter for the Israeli N12 News had water bottles and sticks thrown at him live.

Israel-Hezbollah
Lebanon orders: Confront any Israeli incursion

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has ordered the military to confront any Israeli incursion into the country's southern parts, AFP reports.

The order comes after Israel reportedly crossed the border and carried out a raid on Thursday in the southern Lebanese city of Blida, killing one person, Reuters reports.

The Israeli military said it shot at a person acting suspiciously while destroying Hezbollah targets in Blida, the Times of Israel reports.