Israel

Israel says an IDF–Shin Bet strike in central Gaza killed members of a Hamas cell, including an operative linked to the abductions of Hersh Goldberg-Polin HY"D, Alon Ohel, Elia Cohen, and Or Levi from a shelter in Re'im; others had held Avinatan Or in Hamas captivity.

Censorship was lifted Sunday night as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit across the border with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, while Hezbollah kept up rocket and drone fire on northern Israel.

Israel’s Advisory Committee on Senior Appointments approved Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman to head the Mossad. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the appointment; Gofman is slated to take office June 2, 2026, for a five-year term. Multiple reports say committee chair Asher Grunis dissented over a past case involving teen operative Ori Elmakias; the attorney general flagged a "legal difficulty," and petitions to the High Court are expected.

Ahead of Yom HaShoah, new data from Israel's Holocaust Survivors' Rights Authority show that 63% of survivors are women, and the average age is 87.

Uganda’s military chief warns any attempt to destroy Israel would trigger intervention, announces troop offer and signals visit to Tel Aviv Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, issued a series of unusually forceful pro-Israel statements over the past day, declaring that his country would join a war on Israel’s side if it faces destruction and offering to deploy tens of thousands of troops. In one post, he also said he was on his way to Tel Aviv to meet “our Israeli brothers.” The remarks, made on Kainerugaba’s personal social media accounts stand out as a rare and direct show of support from a senior African military figure. No official Ugandan government deployment or visit has been formally confirmed. “We want the war in the Middle East to end now, the world is tired of it. But let it be clear to everyone: any talk of destroying Israel or defeating it militarily will bring us into the war on Israel’s side,” Kainerugaba wrote. In another post, he added: “No one will touch Israel. Africa will defend it. The Jews are Africa’s first children.” Kainerugaba framed his position in both religious and historical terms. “We stand with Israel because we are Christians,” he wrote, adding in a separate message that Israel “stood with us when we were nobodys in the 1980s and 1990s.” He went further, offering direct military support. The general said he was prepared to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers in Israel “under my command, to defend the Holy Land.” In a separate statement reflecting his broader rhetoric during the same period, he claimed that “a single Ugandan brigade can capture Tehran within two weeks,” urging observers not to underestimate his country’s forces. One of the most widely circulated statements came when Kainerugaba announced a planned visit to Israel. “I am on my way to Tel Aviv to meet our Israeli brothers,” he wrote. As of now, there has been no independent confirmation that the trip has taken place or that an official visit has been scheduled by either Jerusalem or Kampala. Kainerugaba also pointed to the historic ties between the two countries, referencing the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation. He reaffirmed Uganda’s plan to build a monument at Entebbe International Airport in honor of Yoni Netanyahu, the Israeli officer killed during the mission. “We will build a statue at Entebbe International Airport in honor of Yoni Netanyahu,” he wrote, adding: “The blood spilled at Entebbe bound our fate forever.” The latest statements were part of a broader series of posts in which the general also issued threats toward regional actors and commented on global conflicts, reflecting a pattern of highly provocative messaging. Kainerugaba has previously drawn international attention for controversial remarks on social media, including statements that sparked diplomatic tensions. As of now, Israeli officials have not publicly responded to the remarks, and no formal military coordination between the countries has been announced. The statements nonetheless highlight an unusual and vocal alignment with Israel from a senior African military leader, even as it remains unclear whether they signal any concrete policy shift or operational cooperation.

The IDF and the Shin Bet said they eliminated Abd al-Rahman Ammar Hassan Khoudri, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative who took part in the October 7 raid on Nir Oz. In Lebanon, Maher Qassem Hamdan, commander of the 'Lebanese Brigades,' was killed near Sidon.

New survey shows sharp rise in negative views since 2022, with younger Americans across both parties driving the shift

An intercepted call reveals Hungary’s foreign minister promised to share all intelligence after Israel’s pager operation targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon—an awkward twist given Budapest’s close ties to Israel and the U.S.

Shin Bet and Israel Police arrested three residents of Haifa and northern Israel on suspicion of manufacturing explosives. Investigators say the main suspect was tasked by Iranian intelligence with assassinating an Israeli politician.

The IDF says Southern Command troops killed Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah, a key figure in Hamas's rocket and weapons production who planned attacks and posed an immediate threat to forces on the ground.

Staff Sgt. Tuval Yosef Lifshitz, 20, from Beit She'an, a fighter in the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, was killed yesterday in battle in southern Lebanon. An officer and four other soldiers were wounded in the same incident.

As Israel faces danger, Jews around the world can respond. Discover the power of prayer and connection in times of uncertainty.

At the Sderot military cemetery, Capt. Noam Madmoni, a team commander in Sayeret Nahal, was laid to rest after falling in combat in Lebanon. Three other fighters from the unit were killed as well.

Acting on Defense Minister Israel Katz’s directive, Director General Amir Baram has ordered a full stop to new purchases from France. Existing contracts will continue as Israel shifts spending to local industry and to suppliers in “friendly” countries to strengthen security self-reliance.

Capt. Noam Madmoni, Staff Sgt. Ben Cohen, Staff Sgt. Maksim Antis, and another soldier whose name has not yet been cleared for publication were killed in a battle in southern Lebanon. In the same incident, three more soldiers were wounded—one seriously and two moderately.

In a 62–48 vote with one abstention, lawmakers approved National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s bill in its final readings. Netanyahu supported it; most opposition leaders voted no, except Avigdor Liberman.

Magen David Adom releases casualty data one month into the fighting: of 2,050 people treated, 504 were hit by rocket fire (19 killed); 1,122 were hurt while heading to shelter; and 22 were injured in traffic accidents when they pulled over during sirens.

Israeli prosecutors charged 23-year-old Eilat resident Ali Gabar, alleging he connected over Telegram with an Iranian intelligence contact, accepted hundreds of dollars via PayPal and other digital wallets, and filmed the Israel Air Force's Ovda base, its access roads, and other sensitive sites and homes.

The IDF released the text of the order to go to war against Iran and shared behind-the-scenes moments leading up to Operation "Lion's Roar" — from joint assessments with the U.S. to tense briefings in the Air Force bunker.

Alerts rang out from the Negev to the Galilee after launches from Iran and Lebanon. A strike at a factory in the Neot Hovav industrial zone sparked a fire and left one person lightly injured; hazmat concerns are being checked. Multiple interceptions reported; Route 40 closures in the south.