Israeli government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly attacked critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza, pushing back against mounting international condemnation of the ongoing war. His remarks come as scrutiny of Israel's conduct in the territory continues to grow among foreign governments, humanitarian organisations and commentators.

According to a new report, ten days before Hamas's October 7 attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli officials to act to contain and minimize escalation in Gaza. The disclosure is fueling debate over whether Israeli leadership underestimated threats from Gaza in the lead-up to the assault, and is intensifying scrutiny of the government's handling of intelligence warnings and security policy before the deadliest attack in Israel's history.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, with observers noting he emphasised Israel's military achievements rather than its peace efforts in his remarks. The speech drew attention to Israel's strategic posture amid ongoing regional tensions, with commentators weighing what the emphasis signals about the government's priorities on the international stage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered officials to 'act to contain, minimize the escalation' in Gaza just days before Hamas's October 7 attack, according to a report aired on Israeli television. The revelation has drawn scrutiny in Israel, as it suggests the government was focused on easing tensions in Gaza immediately before the surprise assault that triggered the ongoing war.

Several Israeli ministers have publicly endorsed calls to re-establish Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, according to Anadolu Agency. The statements have drawn attention amid the ongoing war and debates over Gaza's future governance, with critics warning such moves would violate international law and complicate ceasefire efforts. Supporters within the government argue a Jewish presence in Gaza is a security necessity.

Israeli ministers and lawmakers joined thousands of demonstrators calling for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza, which Israel dismantled in 2005 and which are considered illegal under international law. The gathering reflects growing pressure within Israel's governing coalition over the future of the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war and debate over post-war control of the territory.

An RFI investigation reports that the head of Egyptian intelligence warned Benjamin Netanyahu that an attack was imminent before October 7. The claim suggests Israeli leadership may have received prior warnings about Hamas's assault, fueling debate over why the attack was not prevented and who bears responsibility for the security failure.

An Israeli court has found that the government is in violation of its ruling requiring Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners. The decision highlights an ongoing standoff between Israel's judiciary and the government over detention conditions and prisoners' rights. The ruling comes amid heightened tensions over Palestinian detainees held since the Gaza war, with rights groups pressing for independent monitoring of their treatment.

Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats in retaliation for the Netherlands' sanctions on Israeli settlers and settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move escalates a growing rift between Israel and Western governments that have imposed measures over settlement expansion and settler violence, raising questions about the future of diplomatic ties with European allies.

A senior Hamas leader has dismissed Israel's election, saying its outcome will bring no change for Palestinians. The comments, reported by Le Monde, reflect Hamas's longstanding position that Israeli politics offers no path to Palestinian statehood or relief from occupation, regardless of which coalition forms the next government.

Israeli politician and former Knesset member Einat Wilf, in an interview with The Jerusalem Post, set out a plan for a future Israeli government to disarm Hamas, arguing Palestinians must 'stop being treated like infants'. She said lasting security depends on removing Hamas's military capacity and ending international policies she views as infantilising Palestinian leadership.

Al Jazeera reports that the Board of Peace, the framework overseeing Gaza's future, has ruled out any role for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the territory. Critics say the decision echoes long-standing Israeli demands to remove the agency, raising questions about whether the board is pursuing an independent approach or following Israeli policy lines on Gaza's postwar administration.

The Vatican's top diplomat told the UN General Assembly that a two-state solution remains essential to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and called for limits on the development and use of artificial intelligence. The speech aligns with Pope Francis's repeated appeals for peace in the Middle East and for ethical guardrails on new technologies. It underscores the Holy See's effort to shape international debate on both conflicts and technology governance.

Most delegates walked out at the start of Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations General Assembly. According to reports circulating online, Israeli staff recorded which countries left, cross-referencing the walkout with UN attendance records to identify the departing representatives. The claim has drawn attention because it suggests Israel is tracking which governments boycotted the speech.

The United Nations has expanded its list of companies with ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to 138 businesses. The so-called blacklist names firms deemed to be operating in or supporting settlement activity, which Israel and several Western governments dispute. The update is expected to draw sharp reactions from Israel, settler groups and businesses named, while human rights organisations welcome it as increased accountability.

Israel has revoked the credentials of Dutch diplomats working in the West Bank, in retaliation for a Dutch ban on goods from Israeli settlements. The move escalates a diplomatic dispute between the two countries and restricts the Netherlands' diplomatic activity in the occupied territory. It highlights growing friction between Israel and European governments over settlement trade and policy.

Israel is one month away from its latest national election, which commentators are once again calling the country's 'most important in history'. With campaigning entering its final stretch, attention is turning to whether the vote will break the political deadlock that has defined recent Israeli elections and produce a government capable of governing.

A new poll published a month before Israel's election shows the anti-Netanyahu 'change bloc' and Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc tied at 52 seats each, leaving neither side with a clear path to a parliamentary majority. The result points to another tight, potentially inconclusive vote, with smaller parties likely to decide who can form the next government.

The United Nations has expanded its database of companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements to 138 firms. The list, maintained by the UN Human Rights Council, flags businesses the UN says are involved in activities supporting settlement expansion, which it considers illegal under international law. Israel rejects the blacklist, and its publication has drawn criticism from Israeli officials and mixed reactions from companies and governments.

Opinion polls ahead of Israel's upcoming Knesset election are showing widely divergent results, leaving the likely outcome uncertain. With surveys differing on party support and potential coalition scenarios, analysts and voters are watching closely as campaigning intensifies and the vote approaches.

Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch officials in retaliation for Western sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The move escalates a growing dispute between Israel and European governments over settlement policy, and observers say it signals a hardening of Israel's response to international pressure over its occupation policies.

Israeli politician Avigdor Liberman has called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, arguing ahead of the November election that it risks falling to Hamas. The appeal places the future of the Palestinian governing body at the centre of Israeli campaign debate, with concerns that Hamas could take control should the Authority collapse.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised five opposition leaders who have agreed to cooperate ahead of upcoming elections. The opposition parties are joining forces to boost voter turnout and present a united challenge to Netanyahu's governing coalition. The accord signals a coordinated effort to unseat Israel's long-serving leader, and Netanyahu's response underscores how seriously his camp views the threat.